When masking for SRT, what is the first step?

When masking for Speech Reception Threshold (SRT), the first step is to begin at the SRT of the better ear plus 10 dB. This practice helps ensure that the masking noise is effective in preventing the crossover of sound to the ear being tested, thereby allowing for an accurate assessment of the SRT.

By starting at the better ear's SRT plus a margin of 10 dB, you establish a masking level that is high enough to ensure that the test ear is being sufficiently masked from the response of the better ear. This approach is essential in audiological testing protocols, as it helps to rule out any influence from the non-test ear and guarantees that the results reflect the true hearing ability of the poorer ear.

In contrast, beginning masking at the SRT of the poorer ear does not ensure adequate masking and can lead to inaccurate thresholds for the ear being tested. Similarly, starting at the threshold determined by the Pure Tone Average (PTA) might not provide the necessary level of masking, as it does not take into account the specific speech reception thresholds. Setting the masking level at 0 dB is ineffective because it would not sufficiently prevent crossover and would likely lead to unreliable test results. Hence, the correct procedure is to start at