Overview: Modeling ipsilateral loudness adaptation as an indicator of peripheral function.

Abstract

Weiler and Hood [Audiology 16, 499–506 (1977)] and others found that a highly accurate model could be constructed to account for adaptation found by the classic method of simultaneous dichotic loudness balances. However, when the ipsilateral comparison paradigm (ICP) was devised to avoid complications of binaural/interaural effects, the SDLB model did not seem to fit [Weiler et al., J. Gen. Psychol. 114, 411–421 (1987); errata, 1988] and others. Recently, studies by R. Tannen and K. Jones [unpublished MA theses in progress, University of Cincinnati (1996)] seem to have provided the basis for a conversion from the SDLB model to ICP results. A critical assumption is that binaural loudness effects are double that of ipsilateral adaptation. Work by the authors and others will be reviewed with discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the model for ipsilateral adaptation.