A Comparison of Acoustic Reflex and Loudness Growth in Normal and Pathological Ears

1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall K. Beedle ◽  
Earl R. Harford
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Endolymphatic Hydrops ◽  
Growth Function ◽  
Unilateral Hearing Loss ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Acoustic Reflexes ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Loudness Growth

This study compares acoustic reflex growth and loudness growth at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. Two groups of 10 subjects each were tested: a group with normal hearing, and a group with a unilateral hearing loss resulting from endolymphatic hydrops and demonstrating loudness recruitment. Acoustic reflexes were recorded graphically at successive 2-dB increments from the reflex threshold to a sensation level of 16 dB, employing an ascending and a descending approach. Alternate binaural loudness balances were performed at three sensation levels relative to the acoustic reflex threshold. Results indicate that the slope of the acoustic reflex growth function is much greater and more rapid for the normal ears than for either ear of the subjects with unilateral hydrops. Also, the acoustic reflex growth is essentially the same for the impaired ears and the good ears of the subjects with a unilateral hearing loss. On the basis of these results, it appears that the relationship presumed to exist between loudness experience and the acoustic reflex must be questioned.

The Relationship between Magnitude of Hearing Loss and Acoustic Reflex Threshold Levels

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shlomo Silman ◽  
Stanley A. Gelfand
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Test Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Threshold Levels ◽  
Reflex Responses ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Pure Tones ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
The Relationship

The acoustic reflex threshold (ART) was studied in 544 ears having hearing levels (ANSI-1969) ranging from 0 to 110 dB HL. The activating signals were pure tones (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) presented at levels up to 125 dB HL. The results indicated that the ART increased with hearing loss beyond certain levels. The proportion of absence of reflex responses depends upon the degree of hearing loss, test frequency, and the limits imposed by the instrumentation. Absence of reflex responses is rare for hearing losses of less than about 80 dB HL when the hearing loss is attributable to cochlear involvement.

The Prediction of Hearing Loss in Persons With Cerebral Palsy Using Contralateral Acoustic Reflex Threshold for Broad-Band Noise

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-95
Author(s):  
Michele B. Emmer ◽  
Shlomo Silman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Band Noise ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

The utility of R. Keith’s (1977) method of screening for hearing sensitivity using the contralateral acoustic-reflex threshold (ART) for broad-band noise (BBN) was tested in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). Three groups of participants were included in this prospective study. The first group comprised 20 normal-hearing individuals without CP whose results were used as normative data. The second group comprised 16 participants with normal hearing and CP. The third group comprised 22 participants with sensorineural hearing loss and CP. The results of this study indicate that Keith’s screening method employing ART for BBN can be used successfully in a population with multiple handicaps where a quick, inexpensive, readily available, and accurate method is needed.

Relationship Between Loudness Discomfort Level and Acoustic Reflex Threshold for Normal and Sensorineural Hearing-Impaired Individuals

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lee McLeod ◽  
Herbert J. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Pure Tone ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Impaired Group ◽  
Group A ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between loudness discomfort level (LDL) and acoustic reflex threshold (ART) was determined by comparing the ART to the LDL obtained by the psychophysical method of constant stimuli. Randomly presented stimuli of 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and a multi-talker speech noise were presented to normal and sensorineural hearing-impaired listeners. The listener’s task was to judge whether the stimulus was at a level that was: (1) too loud or uncomfortably loud; or (2) not too loud or not uncomfortably loud. Prior to the judgment of the subject, the acoustic reflex threshold was determined. Both LDL and ART were found to be significantly higher for the hearing-impaired group. For the pure tone stimuli, LDL for the hearing-impaired group was at or below the ART. Significant differences were shown to exist between LDL and ART for each group. A multiple regression analysis indicated significant correlations between LDL and ART. Ranges of prediction error were selected to investigate the ability of ART to predict LDL. Both pure tone and speech ART successfully predicted LDL within ± 10 dB for a high percentage of the subjects.

Effects of Stimulus Duration and Stimulus Off Time on the Auditory and Acoustic Reflex Thresholds

1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan S. Feldman ◽  
Debra Katz
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Stimulus Duration ◽  
Auditory Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Tracking Method ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
Off Time

The effects of stimulus duration and stimulus off time on the thresholds of hearing and the acoustic reflex were investigated in 10 normal-hearing subjects and 10 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. A 1000-Hz stimulus with on-off times of 500-500 msec and 30-30 msec was used to obtain hearing sensitivity and acoustic reflex thresholds via a tracking method. Auditory threshold was poorer for the 30-30 msec tone than the 500-500 msec stimulus in both groups. Using the different stimuli, no significant difference in acoustic reflex threshold was observed in either group. These results suggest that the addition of a short off time modifies the previously observed effects of both duration and off time on the acoustic reflex and auditory threshold.

A Comparison of Three Methods for Predicting Hearing Loss from Acoustic Reflex Thresholds

1977 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Margolis ◽  
Cydney M. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
False Positives ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Conservative Approach ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Threshold Data ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold

Previously reported acoustic reflex threshold data from normal and hearing-impaired subjects indicate that the effect of stimulus bandwidth on reflex thresholds is altered by sensorineural hearing loss. It is this change in the “bandwidth effect” that forms the basis for predicting hearing loss from reflex threshold data. Three predictive procedures were compared for 17 normal and 60 hearing-impaired ears. All methods correctly identified most hearing losses but none of the methods accurately estimated magnitude of hearing loss. Two methods were characterized by a high rate of false positives. The third was tailored to minimize false positives (6%) and maintain a high rate (93%) of predicting hearing losses greater than 32 dB while making no attempt to make finer discriminations. This more conservative approach minimizes serious predictive errors while identifying a high proportion of clinically significant hearing losses.

Audiologic Findings in Hyperacusic and Nonhyperacusic Subjects

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Brandy ◽  
James M. Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Pure Tone ◽  
Growth Data ◽  
Acoustic Reflex ◽  
Adjustment Procedure ◽  
Threshold Data ◽  
Fractionation Method ◽  
Reflex Threshold ◽  
Acoustic Reflex Threshold ◽  
Loudness Growth ◽  
Male Subjects

This study compared pure-tone threshold data, acoustic reflex threshold data, and loudness growth data for a group of 25 hyperacusic male subjects vs. a group of 13 nonhyperacusic male subjects. Pure-tone thresholds and acoustic reflex thresholds were obtained in 5-dB steps, using revised Hughson-Westlake procedures. Loudness growth functions were obtained with a fractionation (method of adjustment) procedure whereby the subjects doubled loudness, using a 1-dB step attenuator. Results suggest that loudness growth was significantly different for the hyperacusic subjects compared to the nonhyperacusic subjects, but no significant differences in pure-tone thresholds or acoustic reflex thresholds were observed. When the hyperacusic group was divided into subgroups, however, the endocrine disorder subgroup had significantly lower acoustic reflex thresholds compared to the other subgroups of hyperacusic subjects. No other significant differences among the subgroups were noted.

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