What indicates the need for masking in Word Recognition testing?

Masking is a crucial technique used in audiological assessments to ensure that the ear being tested is the one actually receiving the tone or speech signal without interference from the other ear. The need for masking during Word Recognition testing is determined by the relationship between the presentation level of the test signal in one ear and the Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) of the non-test ear, adjusted for Interaural Attenuation (IA).

When the presentation level in one ear, after subtracting the interaural attenuation, is greater than or equal to the SRT of the other ear, this indicates that the sound may be cross-heard by the non-test ear. In this situation, the response from the test ear could be influenced by the non-test ear’s hearing ability, thus compromising the accuracy of the test results.

Therefore, when the conditions show that the signal in the test ear is substantial enough to potentially be heard by the other ear, masking is necessary to isolate the test ear and ensure that the testing results reflect its specific hearing capability without outside interference.