Correlates of acoustic reflex latency in normal-hearing adults of two age groups

Abstract

Parametric studies of the acoustic stapedial reflex may be made by measuring its threshold, amplitude, and time course, including latency. Previous reports have established that aging affects the acoustic reflex in at least two ways: by raising its threshold to noise and tone activators; and by reducing the amplitude. In this study, we compared acoustic reflex latency in females of two age groups, 20–40 years and 60–80 years, when the activator tone was presented at equal sound pressure level (SPL), at equal sensation level (SL), and when reflex amplitudes were matched. The results indicated that acoustic reflex latency can be predicted more reliably on the basis of amplitude than on absolute or relative levels of the activator signal. Implications of these findings to the use of latency measures as indicants of central auditory dysfunction are discussed.