SNR
Also written as: SNR — Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Abbreviation for signal-to-noise ratio, widely used in audiology reports, hearing aid documentation, and acoustic standards.
Full Definition
SNR is the standard abbreviation for signal-to-noise ratio and appears pervasively in audiology and acoustics literature. Editors must ensure it is not confused with 'SNR loss', which is a specific outcome metric derived from the QuickSIN or HINT tests representing the decibel penalty a listener incurs relative to normal-hearing norms. SNR should be expanded on first use in formal documents; in tables and figures the abbreviation alone is acceptable provided it appears in a legend.
Usage
Usage note: Expand on first use in running text. 'SNR loss' is a distinct metric and should not be abbreviated identically to SNR without qualification.
In Context
- "Classroom FM systems can improve the SNR by 15–20 dB at the child's ear." — Educational audiology guidance document
- "Results are expressed as SNR loss in dB relative to a normal-hearing reference group." — Research methods section