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Abstract
Objective: Our aim was to explore the usage of individualized computer models to simulate hearing loss based on detailed psychophysical assessment and to offer hypothetical diagnoses of the underlying pathology. Design: Individualized computer models of normal and impaired hearing were constructed and evaluated using the psychophysical data obtained from human listeners. Computer models of impaired hearing were generated to reflect the hypothesized underlying pathology (e.g. dead regions, outer hair cell dysfunction, or reductions in endocochlear potential). These models were evaluated in terms of their ability to replicate the original patient data. Study sample: Auditory profiles were measured for two normal and five hearing-impaired listeners using a battery of three psychophysical tests (absolute thresholds, frequency selectivity, and compression). Results: The individualized computer models were found to match the data. Useful fits to the impaired profiles could be obtained by changing only a single parameter in the model of normal hearing. Sometimes, however, it was necessary to include an additional dead region. Conclusion: The creation of individualized computer models of hearing loss can be used to simulate auditory profiles of impaired listeners and suggest hypotheses concerning the underlying peripheral pathology.
Notes
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants for donating time and effort to the study and the associate editor Jacek Smurzynski and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions on this manuscript. This research was supported by EPSRC, Deafness Research UK, and DFG JU 2858/1-1.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Notes
1. This almost horizontal function appeared to call into question the measurement technique. This is because forward masking was apparently independent of the duration of the gap between the masker and the probe. Supplementary tests with this subject were carried out using much longer gaps. It was found that the masker was indeed rising but very slowly as a function of gap duration. The same phenomenon has been observed in a small number of other patients. The data suggest a complete absence of compression so that a small rise in masker levels results in a considerable increase in forward masking. The phenomenon invites further research.