Performance at different stimulus intensities with the within- and across-channel adaptive tests of temporal resolution

Abstract

Objective: The Adaptive Tests of Temporal Resolution (ATTR©) software provides within-channel (WC) and across-channel (AC) adaptive measures of temporal resolution that are feasible for clinical applications. The purpose of the present study was to obtain normative values for young adults on two of the ATTR tests: the narrow-band noise within-channel (NBN-WC) test and the narrow-band noise across-channel (NBN-AC) test, at different stimulus intensities. Design: Gap detection thresholds were measured at five sensation levels. A Latin square design was used to control for practice effects. Study sample: The NBN-WC group and the NBN-AC group each consisted of 25 young adults with normal hearing. Results: Gap detection thresholds for both conditions decreased with increasing stimulus intensity, and stimulus intensities above 20 dB SL were not associated with large improvements in performance. Variability was larger in the NBN-AC condition. Values obtained for the NBC-WC condition were very similar to previously reported ATTR results despite equipment and design differences. Conclusion: Results provide normative values for NBN-WC and NBN-AC performance on the ATTR and suggest that the ATTR is a robust test for clinical use.

Key Words::

• Temporal resolution
• gap detection
• within-channel
• across-channel
• ATTR

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Jennifer Lister and Dr. Richard Roberts for generously providing the ATTR© software that was used in this study. The within-channel portion of the data described in this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Audiology, April 14–17, 2010 in San Diego, USA. (Performance Intensity Function of Gap Detection Using the Adaptive Test of Temporal Resolution by Hess B. & Blumsack J.).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest.