[Reaction times at auditory threshold: a comparison of normal hearing probands and patients with hearing damage].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to examine the latencies between tonal stimuli and response of normal ears at the threshold compared with ears with a frequency-specific threshold above 70 dB.


METHODS
Reaction times to tonal stimuli of 122 adults with normal hearing and adults with hearing loss were compared at the threshold of hearing to reaction times beyond the threshold. The study group of tested patients was divided into four groups corresponding to the frequency-specific hearing loss on the basis of previous audiometric investigations.


RESULTS
The results reveal that response latencies in ears with normal hearing asymptomatically approach the auditory threshold. In contrast, we failed to measure a significant prolongation of reaction times in presence of extensive hearing loss (above 70 dB) even at the minimum level of auditory perception. In the presence of extensive hearing loss (above 70 dB), we detected a significantly lower rise of threshold response latencies at normal audiometric frequencies than in normal ears.


CONCLUSIONS
The reaction time results are evaluated, and the possible role of the outer hair cells are discussed.
Hustert
B
B
HNO-Universitätsklinik Münster.
Kumpf
W
W
Stoll
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010897:Pitch Discrimination / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values
Reaktionszeiten an der Hörschwelle: Eine Gegenüberstellung von normakusischen und hörgeschädigten Probanden.