intelligibility rating
A clinical measurement expressing the percentage of speech that can be understood by unfamiliar listeners.
Full Definition
Intelligibility rating is a quantitative assessment that measures how much of a person's speech can be understood by naive listeners who are unfamiliar with the speaker. Ratings are typically expressed as percentages, ranging from 0% (completely unintelligible) to 100% (fully intelligible). Speech pathologists obtain these ratings through standardized testing procedures or structured listener judgments using connected speech samples. The rating considers factors such as articulation accuracy, speech rate, and prosodic features that affect overall comprehensibility. Intelligibility ratings are crucial for establishing baseline performance, measuring treatment progress, and determining functional communication levels for educational or vocational planning.
Usage
Usage note: Always express as a percentage; distinguish from comprehensibility which includes listener factors.
In Context
- "The child's intelligibility rating improved from 40% to 75% following intervention." — Progress report
- "Unfamiliar listeners rated the patient's speech intelligibility at 60% in structured conversation." — Assessment report