People often tell us they can hear speech but cannot make out the words.
One-to-one conversation may be fine. A family meal, cafe, meeting or restaurant is different. Several voices compete, cutlery moves, chairs scrape, music plays, and the voice you want is suddenly harder to pick out.
A standard hearing test tells us what sounds you can detect in quiet. Speech-in-noise testing measures how well you follow speech when background noise is present.
At Alto, we include speech-in-noise testing in the Complete Hearing Assessment. We use the result alongside your hearing levels and the situations you find difficult when considering hearing aids, fitting and accessories.
Reviewed by Adam Bostock, Managing Director at Alto Hearing. Last reviewed 20 May 2026.
In this article
Watch the test
This short video shows how the QuickSIN speech-in-noise test works during an assessment.
Watch the QuickSIN demonstration on YouTube
Why hearing in noise can be hard
An audiogram records the faintest sounds you can hear at different pitches. It does not show how well you follow a conversation in background noise.
Speech contains softer sounds that are easy to miss, especially consonants. Background noise can mask them, so you may hear someone’s voice without catching the words.
Restaurants, cafes and family meals are hard because the brain has to separate the voice you want from everything else arriving at the same time. Hearing loss can make this harder, but speech-in-noise problems can also be worse than the audiogram alone would suggest.
What QuickSIN measures
At Alto, we use a speech-in-noise test called QuickSIN. SIN stands for Speech in Noise.
The score is called SNR loss. SNR means signal-to-noise ratio, the difference in level between speech and background noise. SNR loss tells us how much extra separation you need compared with a reference for people with normal hearing.
The higher the score, the more extra separation you need between speech and noise.
QuickSIN SNR loss ranges
| SNR loss | Guide category |
|---|---|
| 0-3 dB | Normal or near-normal speech understanding in noise. |
| 3-7 dB | Mild difficulty. Noisy places may take more effort. |
| 7-15 dB | Moderate difficulty. Groups and restaurants may be noticeably harder. |
| More than 15 dB | Severe difficulty. Speech may need much more help to stand out from noise. |
These ranges are guide categories used with QuickSIN. Your audiologist interprets them alongside your hearing test, case history and listening goals.
How the test works
You listen to recorded sentences with background speech babble. The sentences become harder to follow as the balance between speech and noise changes. After each sentence, you repeat as much as you can.
You are not expected to get every word right. Guessing is allowed. Partial answers still help us understand how much speech information you were able to catch.
What you do
- Listen to each sentence.
- Repeat the words you heard.
- Guess if you are unsure.
- Keep going as the sentences become harder to follow.
What we measure
- How many key words were correct.
- The speech-to-noise level for each sentence.
- The SNR loss score.
- How the result fits your symptoms.
The test is usually completed in a few minutes.
What the result can change
We use the result with your hearing thresholds and the situations you find difficult to decide what to recommend.
Hearing-aid recommendation
If background noise is the main complaint, the recommendation may need to look beyond basic amplification. Directional microphones, noise management, processing style and comfort all matter.
Technology level
Two people with similar audiograms may not need the same technology. A poorer speech-in-noise score can be one reason to consider more advanced noise processing, alongside the fitting and the places where you need help. Our guide to whether premium hearing aids are worth it explains how to weigh that against the extra cost.
Accessories
Some people need more than hearing aids in certain places. A remote microphone, TV streamer or other hearing aid accessory may help with a particular listening task.
Expectations and follow-up
The result helps us explain hearing-aid limits, agree what to practise first and decide which situations to review at follow-up.
The result also helps us explain why a person may be doing well in quiet but still find groups exhausting.
Hearing aid technology for speech in noise
Hearing aids use directional microphones and noise processing to make speech easier to follow in competing sound. We consider those features alongside the earpiece, your hearing loss and where you need help.
Widex Allure AI RIC now includes Clarity Boost, an on-demand programme intended to give extra speech support in background noise.
The test result can help us choose a starting point for the fitting. It cannot predict exactly how you will hear at a family meal or decide which manufacturer will suit you.
If your result is worse than expected
A higher SNR loss may lead us to look more closely at hearing-aid fitting and verification, remote microphone support, seating strategies or advice for family members. We also discuss what to expect in restaurants and which difficulties to review at follow-up.
Turning the volume up may leave speech unclear if the background noise becomes louder too.
What if the result is normal?
You can score within the normal range and still struggle in particular situations. Your audiologist will consider hearing thresholds, attention, fatigue, sound sensitivity, ear health, wax, language familiarity and the listening environment alongside what you describe.
One normal result does not rule out the difficulty you are describing or decide whether you need hearing aids.
If background noise is your main concern, you may also find our guide to background noise and hearing loss useful.
What to book
If you mainly want a quick first check and are not sure whether anything has changed, SoundCheck may be enough to start.
If you are already struggling in restaurants, meetings, family gatherings or busy places, a Complete Hearing Assessment is the better route. It gives time for ear health checks, full hearing testing, speech-in-noise testing, discussion and clear next steps.
Talk to Alto about hearing in noise
We can talk through what you are finding difficult and explain what happens at a Complete Hearing Assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What is speech-in-noise testing?
Speech-in-noise testing measures how well you understand speech when background noise is present. It adds information that a standard hearing test in quiet cannot show on its own.
Is QuickSIN the same as a normal hearing test?
No. An audiogram records the faintest sounds you can detect at different pitches. QuickSIN uses recorded sentences in background babble. Its SNR loss score shows how much extra separation you need between speech and noise compared with a normal-hearing reference.
Why can I hear people but not understand the words?
Speech clarity depends on hearing detail, background noise, listening effort and how well the brain separates the voice you want from other sound. Speech-in-noise testing measures that difficulty instead of relying only on description.
Can hearing aids help speech in noise?
Hearing aids may improve speech clarity in noise, especially when they are chosen, fitted and adjusted carefully. No hearing aid removes background noise completely. The speech-in-noise result guides technology choice, fitting, accessories and expectations.
Can AI hearing aids fix speech in noise?
Some hearing aids use AI-based processing to help separate speech from competing sound. No hearing aid removes background noise completely. The benefit for you also depends on your hearing loss, the earpiece, fitting and the situation you are in.
Is speech-in-noise testing included at Alto?
Yes. At Alto, speech-in-noise testing is included as part of the Complete Hearing Assessment, alongside ear health checks, standard hearing testing, discussion and clear next steps.
How long does speech-in-noise testing take?
QuickSIN takes a few minutes in most assessments. The wider appointment takes longer because the result needs to be interpreted with your hearing test, symptoms and listening goals.
Sources
Sources checked 13 October 2026. QuickSIN scoring and interpretation: Interacoustics Academy. Current Widex feature information: Widex Allure and the Widex Allure app. Hearing assessment information: RNID.