title: Masking level difference in an adaptive procedure for clinical investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Masking level difference (MLD) tests are an established component of auditory processing test batteries; however, normative data for these tests vary according to procedure. The purpose of this study was to establish a standardized procedure for clinical use in the measurement of the MLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A newly developed computer software program using both an adaptive procedure (MLDA) and a Békésy procedure (MLDB) was evaluated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty normal-hearing, native-English speaking adults between the ages of 18 and 26 years were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the MLDA and MLDB procedures showed statistically significant sex differences in the masked thresholds used to obtain the MLD, but not for the calculated MLD value; hence, normative data need not be reported separately by sex. Furthermore, statistically significant differences between procedures were observed, with the MLDA procedure producing higher MLDs. The MLDA procedure permitted a d' analysis, which could not be determined using the MLDB procedure. For MLDA, d' = 1.4, test sensitivity = 96.4%, and test specificity = 60.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that MLDA is a more efficient testing procedure due to MLDA's higher MLD average and the statistical data available (d', and measures of sensitivity and specificity).
authors: Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. david_mcpherson@byu.edu
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: McPherson
authors: Andrzei
authors: A
authors: Senderski
authors: Maria N
authors: MN
authors: Burnham
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Fujiki
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Harris
authors: Henryk
authors: H
authors: Skarżyński
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Kochanek
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult