Phonemically Balanced Word List
Also written as: PB list — Phonemically Balanced Word List
A standardised set of monosyllabic words designed so that the frequency of phoneme occurrence mirrors that of conversational English, used in speech audiometry.
Full Definition
A phonemically balanced (PB) word list is a carefully constructed set of monosyllabic words in which each phoneme appears with approximately the same frequency as it occurs in natural spoken English. PB lists—such as the W-22 (CID) and NU-6 lists—are the standard stimuli for word recognition score testing in clinical audiology. The phonemic balance criterion helps ensure that test performance reflects actual speech understanding rather than biases introduced by unusual phoneme distribution. Editors should ensure that the specific PB list used (e.g., NU-6, W-22) is identified in methods sections, and should not use 'PB list' and 'word list' interchangeably without specification.
Usage
Usage note: When editing methods sections, ensure the specific list (NU-6, W-22, etc.) is named; 'PB list' alone is insufficiently precise for reproducibility.
In Context
- "The NU-6 phonemically balanced word list was administered at 40 dB SL for word recognition score assessment." — Audiological test methods section
- "Specify which PB list was used; 'word list' alone is insufficient for methodological replication." — Peer-review editorial comment