Detection threshold for SNR change in sentences averages about 3 dB

Evidence

We propose that the underlying psychophysical basis to a meaningful benefit should be the just noticeable difference (JND) for SNR. The SNR JND was measured in a series of experiments using both adaptive and fixed-level procedures across participants of varying hearing ability. The results showed an average SNR JND of approximately 3 dB for sentences in same-spectrum noise. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 5667

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the SNR JND as the proposed psychophysical unit for meaningful hearing benefit, at roughly 3 dB for sentence material.