Article
Loudness and lateralization of binaural broadband noise in subjects with asymmetric hearing loss
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Authors
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Julia Zimmer
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, DE
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Laura Hartog
- Hörzentrum Oldenburg gGmbH, Oldenburg, DE
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Dirk Oetting
- Hörzentrum Oldenburg gGmbH, Oldenburg, DE
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Henri Pöntynen
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, DE
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Mathias Dietz
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, DE
| Published: | March 1, 2023 |
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Outline
Text
Loudness summation of broadband sounds or binaural presentation show larger individual variations for hearing-impaired than for normal-hearing subjects [1]. This is not considered in prescription rules for hearing aids that are based on the audiogram [2], [3]. To compare loudness summation, we applied a threshold-based amplification rule in two groups: 19 subjects with asymmetric hearing loss and 10 subjects with symmetric hearing loss. An additional goal was to compare spatial auditory impressions and lateralization perception with this threshold-based amplification of both groups to the results from normal-hearing subjects. On average, the results of loudness scaling with binaural broadband noises indicated a higher binaural broadband loudness summation in subjects with asymmetric hearing loss than in subjects with symmetric hearing loss. After hearing threshold-based amplification, subjects with asymmetric hearing loss perceived binaural broadband noise strongly lateralized towards the ear with the worse average hearing thresholds in over 20% of the trials, but also towards the better ear in about 5% of the trials. Large inter-individual differences were observed in asymmetrically hearing-impaired subjects with respect to both lateralization and loudness. Results of loudness scaling with monaural narrowband noises showed similar loudness functions for the left and the right ear, with the hearing-threshold based amplification rule in subjects with symmetric hearing loss. However, in half of the asymmetrically hearing-impaired subjects, we found large and unexplained differences between loudness functions of the audiometrically worse and better ear. The difference was more than 10 dB. The results indicate that threshold-based assumptions concerning loudness and lateralization for subjects with asymmetric hearing thresholds must be treated with caution.
References
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