Masking Level Difference at Relatively High Masker Levels: Preliminary Report

Abstract

The binaural masking level difference (MLD) was measured at multiple masking levels (i.e. 500Hz narrow band noise presented at 50-100dB overall SPL) in normal hearing subjects and clinical subjects with varying types and degrees of hearing loss. MLD versus noise level (MLD-NL) functions then were derived for each subject. Some growth in the MLD-NL was seen in nearly all cases of hearing loss up to 70 dB in the poorer ear. These findings suggest that the MLD-NL function may provide the basis for extending the diagnostic usefulness of the MLD test in cases of substantive hearing loss.

Key Words:

• Binaural masking
• Masking level difference
• Hearing loss
• Audiometry