What type of noise is used for masking in speech audiometry?

Masking in speech audiometry is a critical technique used to ensure that test results are accurate by preventing the better-hearing ear from perceiving the sound being presented to the poorer-hearing ear. The correct answer, broad band noise that mimics speech, is ideal for this purpose because it closely resembles the frequencies and characteristics of human speech, which is the type of stimulus being tested. By using this specific type of noise, audiologists can effectively disrupt any potential cross-hearing, allowing for a more reliable assessment of an individual's hearing ability in relation to speech sounds.

Broad band noise that mimics speech encompasses a range of frequencies that aligns well with speech patterns. This approach helps clinicians ensure that the masking noise is effective without being excessively disruptive to the test itself.

In contrast, other types of noise, like narrow band noise, while useful for certain hearing tests, do not cover the full frequency range of human speech effectively. White noise, though it contains a wide spectrum of frequencies, does not specifically target the characteristics of speech sounds. Pulsating pure tones are generally used for different purposes in audiometry and are less effective for speech masking as they do not provide the comprehensive coverage needed for masking speech effectively.