title: Some aspects of auditory space, speech perception and the use of hearing aids.
abstract: The auditory space of an individual is operationally defined as that perceptual area that lies between the upper tolerance level for loud sounds and the threshold of hearing for a specified range of frequencies. Results from recent experimental work are presented to show a difference of some 15 dB between comfortable listening level and loudness discomfort-level, up to 80 dB hearing loss. Results are also shown for the measurement of reaction time to a 2AFC task testing the ability to discriminate initial consonants. Loudness scaling is suggested as a method of eliciting supra-threshold measurements which might be helpful in the fitting of hearing aids.
mesh_terms: D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D011930:Reaction Time; D013067:Speech Perception