What is a CNC word list primarily used for in hearing evaluations?

The CNC word list is primarily used for speech reception threshold testing, which is an important aspect in evaluating a person's hearing ability. This list contains phonetically balanced words that are designed to represent everyday speech sounds accurately. During this type of testing, the individual is asked to repeat the words they hear, allowing the evaluator to gauge how well the person can understand speech at various intensity levels. This information is critical for determining the degree of hearing loss and for making decisions about hearing aids or other interventions.

Using a CNC word list offers the advantage of providing a standardized method of assessment, ensuring that the results can be consistently interpreted and compared across different evaluations. It focuses specifically on speech perception rather than other aspects of hearing, such as frequency response or acoustic reflexes, making it a key tool in audiology and auditory rehabilitation contexts.