Vishakha W. Rawool
Commun. Disord. & Special Educ., Bloomsburg Univ., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Effects of click-repetition rate on acoustic reflex growth were studied in 11 young female subjects (total 22 ears). The probe tone frequency was 226 Hz and the intensity was 85 dB SPL. Following the determination of ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds in response to condensation clicks at repetition rate of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300/s, reflex amplitudes were measured at levels 5 and 10 dB above the thresholds. For each of the measurements data were obtained across three trials. In 10 of the ears evaluated, data were also obtained at 95 dB peSPL for each of the repetition rate that revealed that acoustic reflex amplitudes increase with increase in repetition rates. A significant effect of repetition rate and sensation level and a significant interaction was apparent for the amplitudes obtained at 5- and 10-dB sensation level (SL). For all the repetition rates 10 dB SL yielded higher amplitudes than those obtained at 5 dB SL except at the 50/s rate where increase in sensation level did not produce any significant increase in amplitudes. Detailed analyses will be presented and the results will be discussed with reference to rate integration in the acoustic reflex pathway. [Work supported by Bloomsburg University Grants for Research and Creative Projects and State System of Higher Education Minority Faculty Development Fund, Pennsylvania.]