System and method of enhancing intelligibility of audio playback

A personal listening system and a method of using the personal listening system to enhance speech intelligibility of audio playback, are described. The method includes determining a speech intelligibility metric, such as a speech reception threshold, of a user. Based on the speech intelligibility metric, a tuning parameter is applied to an audio input signal. The speech reception threshold is compared to an environmental signal-to-noise ratio to determine whether enhancement of the audio input signal is warranted. Application of the tuning parameter to the audio input signal generates an audio output signal having reduced noise, making playback of the audio output signal more intelligible to the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.