Word recognition that declines with louder speech signals retrocochlear pathology.

Evidence

Word recognition scores are also fairly predictable based on the audiogram for patients with sensorineural hearing loss of cochlear origin. Yet, a patient with a retrocochlear hearing loss might present with poorer than expected word recognition scores. This finding might be a result of aging, but it may also reflect retrocochlear pathology. Further evidence of retrocochlear pathology can be evident in word recognition measures as a function of the stimulus level. As with the psychometric function, there should be an increasing relationship between presentation level and word recognition scores. In some cases of retrocochlear disorder, however, word recognition decreases with increasing intensity, a phenomenon called rollover. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1757

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the psychometric function and loudness growth discussions earlier in the book on how cochlear vs retrocochlear sites of lesion differ diagnostically. — connects to: Very high SNRs can reduce rather than improve word recognition accuracy; Absence of loudness recruitment signals retrocochlear rather than cochlear pathology; Missing otoacoustic emissions reveal conductive or cochlear but not retrocochlear defects
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1757