Cumulative lifetime effects of noise exposure may or may not be related to reduced performance in speech in noise tests or elevated audiometric thresholds. In addition, some effects of noise-induced hearing impairment may be evident at the neural level, such as cochlear synaptopathy, but not necessarily be observable as raised hearing thresholds of the typical audiogram (often testing sound frequencies between 0.25 and 8 kHz). Individuals' experience of noise exposure is often difficult to measure, but a structured interview approach may prove useful in eliciting information regarding noise exposure across a range of noise exposure activities.

In the current study, the association between a participants' self-report of noise exposure and awareness of difficulties in following speech in ongoing noise were compared with their performance on the Matrix speech-in-noise test. The Matrix test is an adaptive speech-in-noise test using a larger speech corpus than other commonly used tests. All participants had hearing thresholds within normal limits, were assessed on their past history of noise exposure, and asked about their ease/difficulties following speech in ongoing noise.

For each participant, the Matrix test measures were fitted with psychometric intelligibility functions. The deduced intelligibility function parameters, i.e., speech reception threshold (SRT) and function slope, were compared with self-reported score of difficulties with speech intelligibility in noise and past noise exposure history. These resultant associations are discussed with reference to intra- and inter-participant variances in self-report of perceived difficulty and recall of noise experiences.