Intensity discrimination and loudness matches in observers with sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Intensity discrimination and loudness matches were determined as a function of level in observers with sensorineural hearing loss of primarily cochlear origin. For observers with unilateral impairments, tests were made at the same frequency in the normal and impaired ear. For observers with bilateral‐sloping losses, tests were made at different frequencies in the same ear. The stimuli were 500‐ms tones with a rise‐fall time of 25 ms and interstimulus interval of 200 ms. The results suggest that hearing loss (even with recruitment) does not reduce the difference limen provided the comparison is made at the same sound pressure level. In general, the difference limens in normal and impaired hearing appear more similar at equal loudness levels than at equal sound pressure levels or at equal sensation levels. Also, the loudness matching data appear to be at least roughly consistent with the predictions derived from the discrimination data using the proportional‐jnd theory of loudness matching [J. S. Lim, W. M. Rabinowitz, L. D. Braida, and N. I. Durlach, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62, 1256–1267 (1977)]. [Work supported by NIH.]