Background: Speech intelligibility.
Aim: To evaluate speech recognition in individuals with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Method: 79 adults were divided in two groups: a control group with 39 individuals with hearing limits up to 25 dB, and a research group with 40 individuals with audiometric configuration and occupational history suggesting NIHL. The following tests were used with all individuals: Speech Recognition Test, dichotic test Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) and Speech in Noise Test (signal/noise ratio of +5 and -5 dB with ipsilateral white noise).
Results: The Speech Recognition Test and the SSW are not or little useful to discriminate between individuals with NIHL and those with normal hearing.
Conclusion: The Speech in Noise Test can be sensitive in the identification of the hearing alterations presented by individuals with NIHL.