1. Masking for BC
Initial masker level for BC = ACNTE + OE , where OE is the occlusion effect
Use of insert earphones: Smaller occlusion effect, greater IA
Placement of masking transducer important.

2. Marking masked thresholds

3. Speech audiometry
Necessary to determine the degree of speech recognition impairment.
Test environment: One room vs. two-room
Patient responses: Depends on the task.
Can respond using written or verbal responses, or using pictures.

4. Threshold testing
Speech detection threshold (SDT): Lowest level at which a subject can barely detect the presence of speech and identify it as speech.
Speech does not have to be understood, just detected.
Preferred materials: Sentences spoken monotonously.
Speech recognition threshold: Lowest hearing level at which speech can barely be understood.
Preferred materials: Running speech or spondees