[An analysis of the results of central masking effect on healthy ears].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanism of Central Masking Effects(CME) and its effects on audiometry measurement.


METHODS
The pure tone threshold was measured when the notest ear was masked or was in quiet respectively. We investigated the different results while giving different level maskers at the same frequency, or giving the same masker at different frequencies to find out their rules.


RESULTS
The CME has frequency-selective properties and sound level-selective properties. The CME appears apparently at 1 kHz and 2 kHz. At 2 kHz, the CME get the highest. When the masker was lower than 60 dB HL, the CME became higher as the masker was tuned higher; when the masker was 60 dB HL, the CME get the highest[(11.53 +/- 4.38)dB HL]. If the masker was higher than 70 dB HL, overmasking appeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations come to the conclusion that central masking correction should be made clinically when the masker is higher than 40 dB HL. 60 dB HL masker at 2 kHz can make the CME higher than 10 dB HL, thereby can be used to identify false deafness.
Zeng
X
X
Department of Otolaryngology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi 435000.
Liu
W
W
Gong
S
S
Zhong
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010470:Perceptual Masking