On the Use of Discrimination of Level Differences as a Diagnostic Test Procedure as Suggested by Fastl and Schorn [1981]

Abstract

The present article examines critically the recent claim of Fasti and Schorn [Audiology 20: 488-502, 1981] that their proposed test of discrimination of level differences is a powerful diagnostic tool in the assessment of cochlear and retrochlear lesions. Although group differences exist, their individual data would appear to overlap considerably for both types of patient. The audiologist is forced to deal with individual data in assisting in the establishment of a diagnosis. The proposed test, therefore, does not appear to be a powerful diagnostic tool.

Nous apportons ici la critique du test de Fasti et Schorn concernant son intérět comme moyen de diagnostic différentiel entre les lésions cochléaires et rétro-cochléaires. Bien que nous reconnaissions l'existence de différences entre les groupes, il nous semble que dans certains cas individuels des chevauchements considérables existent; or, l'audiologiste doit se baser sur le cas individuel lorsqu'il pose un diagnostic; de ce fait, le test proposé ne nous paraiˇt pas représenter un outil de diagnostic puissant.

Key Words:

• Level discrimination
• Diagnostic testing