The relationship between ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds and loudness judgments in young normal women

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds (ARTs) and loudness judgments. Eleven young women served as subjects. The ipsilateral ARTs were recorded for 0.5-, 1-, and 2-kHz activators using two probe frequencies: 678 and 1000 Hz. The subjects were also asked to judge the loudness of warble tones (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) presented at various sound pressure levels in the following categories: not audible, very soft, soft, comfortable, loud, and very loud. From this data following levels were derived for each subject: very loud, average loud, maximum loud, average comfortable, and maximum comfortable. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship of these levels with the ARTs. For 1 kHz, the maximum comfortable loudness levels were significantly correlated with the ARTs obtained with the 678-Hz probe tone and the average comfortable loudness levels were significantly correlated with the ARTs obtained with the 1000-Hz probe tone. For 2 kHz, the ARTs obtained with the 678-Hz probe tone were significantly correlated with the sound pressure levels that were judged as ‘‘very loud.’’ For 500 Hz, none of the loudness judgments were predictable from the ARTs. Detailed analyses and possible implications of the findings will be presented. [Work supported by a Bloomsburg University Grant for Research and Disciplinary projects.]