Under what circumstances should masking be used for Speech Recognition Testing?

Masking is applied during Speech Recognition Testing primarily to prevent the non-test ear from participating in the test, which ensures the accuracy of the results. When there is a concern that the non-test ear may be able to hear the stimuli being presented to the test ear, masking is necessary. This is particularly important in cases where there is a significant difference in hearing sensitivity between the two ears. By using masking, you can isolate the test ear and obtain a true measure of that ear's ability to recognize speech without the influence of any sounds heard by the non-test ear.

In contrast, the other circumstances listed do not specifically necessitate masking. For instance, the presence of a hearing loss of any degree doesn’t automatically indicate that masking is needed; it depends on the relationship between the ears’ hearing levels. Similarly, merely having a hearing aid or experiencing difficulty understanding speech does not imply that masking is required unless there is also a concern that the non-test ear may be reacting to stimuli during testing.