Modeling Loudness Growth and Loudness Summation in Hearing-Impaired Listeners

Binaural loudness summation was measured using three different paradigms with 10 normally hearing and 20 bilaterally symmetrical high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss subjects. An adaptive paradigm and a loudness matching procedure measured summation at the lower and upper level of comfortable loudness and the loudness discomfort level (LDL). Monaural and binaural LDLs also were obtained with a clinical procedure designed to select maximum output of hearing aids. Stimuli for all three tasks consisted of 500- and 4000-Hz pure tones and a speech spectrum noise. Binaural summation increased with presentation level using the loudness matching procedure, with values in the 6–10 dB range. Summation decreased with level using the adaptive paradigm, and no summation was present with the clinical LDL task. The hearing-impaired subjects demonstrated binaural summation that was not significantly different from the normally hearing subjects. The results suggest that a bilaterally symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss does not affect binaural loudness summation. The monaural and binaural dynamic range widths were similar, and the LDL results suggest that binaural loudness summation may not be an important factor in selecting maximum output of hearing aids.

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Diotic Loudness Summation in Normal and Impaired Hearing

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2803.448 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 445-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Joseph W. Hall ◽

Antony D.G. Harvey

Keyword(s):

Normal Hearing ◽

Hearing Impaired ◽

Impaired Hearing ◽

Loudness Summation

Diotic loudness summation at 500 and 2000 Hz was measured in 10 normal-hearing and 10 cochlear-impaired listeners. Diotic stimuli were matched in loudness to monaural "standards" of 70, 80, and 90 dB SPL. Diotic loudness summation averaged about 9 dB at 500 Hz for both groups. At 2000 Hz, the hearing-impaired listeners showed reduced diotic loudness summation at the 70- and 80-dB levels, but showed normal diotic loudness summation (about 9 dB) at the 90-dB level. The results indicate that diotic loudness summation is normal in cochlear-impaired ears, provided that the stimuli are presented sufficiently above threshold.

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Measurement and modeling of binaural loudness summation for hearing-impaired listeners

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America ◽

10.1121/1.4889868 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 136 (2) ◽

pp. 736-747 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Brian C. J. Moore ◽

Alexander Gibbs ◽

Grace Onions ◽

Brian R. Glasberg

Keyword(s):

Hearing Impaired ◽

Loudness Summation

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Frequency Selectivity in Normally-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Observers

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2303.646 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 646-669 ◽

Cited By ~ 116

Author(s):

Mary Florentine ◽

Søren Buus ◽

Bertram Scharf ◽

Eberhard Zwicker

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Narrow Band ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Frequency Selectivity ◽

Hearing Impaired ◽

Tuning Curves ◽

Reduced Frequency ◽

Cochlear Hearing Loss ◽

Test Level ◽

Loudness Summation

This study compares frequency selectivity—as measured by four different methods—in observers with normal hearing and in observers with conductive (non-otosclerotic), otosclerotic, noise-induced, or degenerative hearing losses. Each category of loss was represented by a group of 7 to 10 observers, who were tested at center frequencies of 500 Hz and 4000 Hz. For each group, the following four measurements were made: psychoacoustical tuning curves, narrow-band masking, two-tone masking, and loudness summation. Results showed that (a) frequency selectivity was reduced at frequencies where a cochlear hearing loss was present, (b) frequency selectivity was reduced regardless of the test level at which normally-hearing observers and observers with cochlear impairment were compared, (c) all four measures of frequency selectivity were significantly correlated and (d) reduced frequency selectivity was positively correlated with the amount of cochlear hearing loss.

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