Effect of Lexical Neighbourhood on Word Recognition Test: A Study in Turkish

Background and Aim: Word Recognition Test (WRT) is a widely used component of routine audiology battery. Several studies were conducted on the effect of words in word recognition lists and whether word difficulty level had an effect in word recalling process of patients. This study aims to compare the scores of patients to the designed Başkent WRT and commonly used Hacettepe WRT by focusing on the lexical neighbourhood. Methods: Study carried out in an Ear Nose and Throat Department of a private university hospital between June and August 2021. 34 persons with sensorineural hearing loss and 34 persons without hearing loss was participated in the study. Designed WRT and widely used common WRT were presented to the participants. Results: Results showed that common WRT included words with more lexical neighbours and sensorineural hearing loss group scores were significantly lower compared to designed WRT. Conclusion: Persons with sensorineural hearing loss have a tendency to misunderstand presented words in WRT as they may trigger other words and misguide the patient. Keywords: Speech audiometry; speech discrimination tests; hearing tests; psychoacoustics