International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

Speech audiometry primarily measures:

1. Overall sound levels

2. Auditory function using a dynamic relevant stimulus

3. Frequency discrimination

4. Pure tone thresholds

The correct answer is: Auditory function using a dynamic relevant stimulus

Speech audiometry is an essential component of audiological assessments and primarily focuses on evaluating an individual's ability to understand speech. The correct choice highlights that this test assesses auditory function using a dynamic and relevant stimulus, which in this case is speech. During speech audiometry, different aspects of a person's ability to perceive and process spoken language are measured. This includes determining speech reception thresholds and the ability to recognize and repeat words or sentences at various intensity levels. By using speech as a stimulus rather than pure tones or sounds, clinicians can better understand how a person's hearing relates to their everyday communication, which is crucial for diagnosing hearing loss that may impact speech understanding. The other options—overall sound levels, frequency discrimination, and pure tone thresholds—do not specifically represent the scope of what speech audiometry measures. These are relevant in broader audiometric testing but do not capture the unique aspect of measuring how well a person can understand speech in realistic situations. Thus, choice B accurately reflects the primary purpose and focus of speech audiometry in audiological practice.