A Procedure for Measuring Speech Detection in Directional Noise

This paper examined the use of the Bekesy tracking technique for the measuring of directional detection thresholds in noise, in various speech and noise loudspeaker configurations. The tracking technique appears to hold promise as a method for measuring speech thresholds quickly and accurately. Further, the results of this study provide the information necessary to select a subset of loudspeaker configurations that would adequately reflect a listener’s ability to detect speech in directional or nondirectional noise as well as provide the reference data that could be used to establish the normative thresholds. The test should be completed in about 5-6 minutes using suggested configurations.