On the Diagnostic Relevance of Level Discrimination

Abstract

In his letter to the editor ‘On the use of discrimination of level differences as a diagnostic test procedure as suggested by Fastl and Schorn [1981]’, Dr. Humes questions the diagnostic relevance of level discrimination. His main argument is the overlap of individual data in patients with cochlear versus retrocochlear disorders. We show that the test proposed can differentiate between these types of disorders for test frequencies in the mid-frequency range and suggest that this test be incorporated into the audiological test battery.

Pour répondre à la critique de Larry E. Humes, les auteurs ont precédé à une nouvelle analyse de leurs résultats. N'ayant obtenu que 5-15% de faux-positifs, ils confirment la validité de leur test, étant entendu qu'il convient de l'intégrer à une batterie de tests audiomé-triques.

Key Words:

• Level discrimination
• Retrocochlear disorders
• Test battery