어음청각검사(speech audiometry)는 일상생활의 의사 소통능력을 측정하기 위해 사용하는 의미 있는 검사방법이 다. 이 중 어음청취역치(speech reception thresholds, SRTs)는 제시된 이음절 단어를 50% 정도 확인할 수 있는 가장 작은 강도를 측정하는 검사로 순음청력검사와의 일치여부를 확인함으로써 검사의 신뢰도를 확인하고, 단어 인지도(word recognition scores, WRSs) 검사의 기초 자료로 사용할 수 있다.20) 최근에는 어음청취역치 대신 어음인지역치(speech recognition thresholds, SRTs)라는 용어의 사용을 권장하고 있는 추세이기 때문에 본 연구에 서도 어음인지역치로 사용하고자 한다.24) Katz(2002)에 의하면 어음인지역치와 기도 순음청력 검사의 평균역치(500, 1,000, 2,000 Hz)와의 차이가 ±6 dB 이내이면 검사의 신뢰도가 우수한 것으로, ±7~12 dB 사이라면 검사의 신뢰도가 보통인 것으로 그리고 ±13 dB 이상이면 신뢰도가 저조한 것으로 해석해야 한다고 한다. 어음인지역치검사를 위해 주로 사용되는 어음표는 양양(강강)격 단어(spondee word)로 구성된 이음절어표로 ① 친숙성(familiarity) ② 음소적 비유사성(phonetic dissimi-
The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean standard bisyllabic word list for adults (KS-BWL-A) used in the speech recognition threshold (SRT) test. A set of 144 bisyllabic words was first selected from previous literatures based on the familiarity, phonetic dissimilarity and normal sampling of Korean speech sounds. Then psychometric function tests for each word were performed for 90 ears of 84 young adults with normal hearing to choose a more homogeneous group of bisyllabic words with respect to audibility. All test words were randomly presented to each subject at each intensity level from -10 dB HL to 24 dB HL in 2 dB steps and the percentage of correct responses was plotted as a function of intensity level. The slopes and levels at 50% intelligibility of the psychometric function curves for all test words were obtained using the logistic regression equation. The mean slope was 10.15%/dB (SD 1.91) and the mean level was 4.70 dB HL (SD 3.05). The standard deviation of the intensity in each spectrum of speech sounds was within 10 dB. Based on the results and clinical application, 36 bisyllabic words were finally selected in terms of the criteria including homogeneity and familiarity. We suggest that the 36 bisyllabic words be further applied to hearing-impaired people and revised if needed. KEY WORDS：Speech recognition threshold (SRT)·Korean standard bisyllabic word list for adults (KS-BWL-A)·Familiarity ·Homogeneity with respect to audibility·Psychometric function curve.
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES APPENDIXES
