What does the Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT) help to validate?

The Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT) primarily helps to validate the pure tone threshold. SRT is the lowest level at which a person can understand speech and is typically expressed in decibels. By correlating SRT with pure tone audiometry results, audiologists can assess whether the hearing sensitivity measured through pure tones matches the individual's speech understanding capabilities. If the SRT aligns closely with the pure tone average, it indicates that the audiometric findings are accurate and reliable for that individual.

The SRT provides valuable insight into the functional aspect of hearing, specifically how well an individual can discern speech in different listening environments. Therefore, it is commonly used in clinical settings to ensure that audiometric results not only reflect the ability to hear sounds but also the ability to comprehend spoken language.