title: Aided and unaided narrow band noise thresholds in listeners with sensorineural hearing impairment.
abstract: This study explored the relationship between narrow band noise thresholds obtained under aided and unaided conditions with normal listeners and with subjects demonstrating sensorineural hearing impairment. Pure-tone and narrow band noise thresholds obtained under earphone conditions were found to approximate each other within 3 dB. Mean noise thresholds obtained in sound field required less sound pressure than thresholds obtained under earphone conditions. In comparing the predicted aided noise thresholds with the observed thresholds, a 4-dB mean difference was found. The close relationship between hearing aid acoustic gain and changes in aided narrow band noise thresholds suggests the use of narrow band noise audiometry in hearing-aid selection when traditional measures cannot be used.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise