Long-term measurement of binaural intensity matches and pitch matches. I. Normal hearing.
Changes in pitch perception and hearing thresholds over time have been observed in subjects with monaural fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss and Ménière's disease. Long-term suprathreshold audiometry and binaural pitch matches could provide information of these changes. Ten normal subjects were tested for stability of binaural intensity and pitch matches during 9-22 days in their homes with newly developed portable test equipment. Binaural pitch matches were measured using a 0.25- or 1-kHz reference tone presented at 60 dB SPL to one ear, and a loudness-matched test tone of adjustable frequency presented to the other ear. The results showed stable binaural intensity matches (individual inter-quartile ranges, IQRs, 1.2 to 5.7 dB), but binaural pitch matches varied greatly (IQR -0.6 to 5.3% at 0.25 kHz; IQR -1.6 to 7.9% at 1 kHz). Binaural pitch-matching was much better in subjects who could define pitch precisely during monaural pitch matching. It was concluded that in future long-term evaluations of patients with fluctuating inner-ear function, binaural intensity matches could be suitable for all, but binaural pitch matching only for selected patients.
Brännström
K Jonas
KJ
Department of Clinical Science, Lund University, Sweden. jonas.brannstrom@med.lu.se
Grenner
Jan
J
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors