Abstract:

This study examined the relationship between ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds (ARTs) and loudness judgments. Eleven young women served as subjects. The ipsilateral ARTs were recorded for 0.5-, 1-, and 2-kHz activators using two probe frequencies: 678 and 1000 Hz. The subjects were also asked to judge the loudness of warble tones (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) presented at various sound pressure levels in the following categories: not audible, very soft, soft, comfortable, loud, and very loud. From this data following levels were derived for each subject: very loud, average loud, maximum loud, average comfortable, and maximum comfortable. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship of these levels with the ARTs. For 1 kHz, the maximum comfortable loudness levels were significantly correlated with the ARTs obtained with the 678-Hz probe tone and the average comfortable loudness levels were significantly correlated with the ARTs obtained with the 1000-Hz probe tone. For 2 kHz, the ARTs obtained with the 678-Hz probe tone were significantly correlated with the sound pressure levels that were judged as ``very loud.'' For 500 Hz, none of the loudness judgments were predictable from the ARTs. Detailed analyses and possible implications of the findings will be presented. [Work supported by a Bloomsburg University Grant for Research and Disciplinary projects.]