The Speech Intelligibility Rating Test (SIR Test)
 
Description:
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 facsimile of a suitable rating scale is included with this compact disc.
 
Purchase:
Obtaining the SIR Test
Format: Audio Compact Disc
The SIR Test is included on the HARL Speech Intelligibility Tests audio compact disc along with the Connected Speech Test (CST). It may be used in a regular CD player for manual presentation or in computer-controlled CD-ROM.. Materials include a calibration noise for setting levels, a set of practice passages, a set of test passages, and some additional passages. All speech passages are recorded with the talker on the left channel and the competing babble on the right channel.

Cost: $50 per disc

 
References:
Information about the development and research regarding the SIR Test may be found in:
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).