Word recognition in presbyacusis.

Word recognition assessed as discrimination loss was analysed in 269 women ranging from 60 to 89 years of age. A clear relationship was found between the discrimination loss and the hearing loss (calculated as the average hearing threshold level at 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz). Furthermore, it was found that a given hearing loss was associated with a much greater discrimination loss in individuals above age 70 than in individuals below that age.