A method for assessing perceived quality of adaptive media streaming includes receiving, by a device including a processor, a stream of adaptive media content. This stream includes both audio signals and video signals. A number of quality change events in the received stream for a predetermined period of time is determined. Also, a difference value between a highest quality level value detected in the received stream for the predetermined period of time and a lowest quality level value detected in the received stream for the predetermined period of time is determined. A quality impact score value is generated for the received stream based on the determined number of quality change events and based on the determined quality level difference value.