What is it?
The SIR Test uses subjective estimations of the proportion of words understood to quantify the intelligibility of continuous speech. The user is encouraged to consult Cox and McDaniel (1989) and McDaniel and Cox (1992) about the development and administration of the test and reliability and sensitivity of data from normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. Briefly, in this test, listeners rate the intelligibility of test passages on an equal-appearing interval scale from 0 to 100. A rating of 0 should reflect a situation in which none of the words is understood and a score of 100 would represent a situation in which all of the words are understood. A copy of a suitable rating scale is included with this compact disc.
How do I get it?
Obtaining the SIR Test
The SIR Test audio tracks can be downloaded to your computer through the link at right. These zipped .mp3 files include a calibration noise for setting levels, a set of practice passages, a set of test passages, and some additional passages. The test can be manually administered as described in the accompanying handbook.
This test was developed at the Hearing Aid Research Laboratory of The University of Memphis with primary support from the department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. Support was also provided by the Center for Research Initiatives and Strategies for the Communicatively Impaired (CRISCI), The University of Memphis.
Audio Tracks
French (in progress)
Spanish (in progress)
Italian (in progress)
German (in progress)
Test Passages Manuals
References
Cox, RM, and McDaniel, DM. “Development of the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) Test for Hearing Aid Comparisons”. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 32, 347-352 (1989).
McDaniel, DM, and Cox, RM. “Evaluation of the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) Test for Hearing Aid Comparisons”. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 35, 686-693 (1992).