Re: Criterion differences when measuring threshold

["Jesteadt, Walt" <jesteadt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ben,

        Lynn Marshall and I looked at criterion differences in threshold
measurements for young and old normal hearing and hearing impaired listeners
about 20 years ago (Marshall and Jesteadt, 1986, JSHR, 29, 82-91) because
there was a silly theory at the time that a shift to more conservative
criteria was an important factor in presbycusis.  We found that listeners in
a standard audiological testing procedure produce thresholds that are
equivalent to 90 to 95% correct in a forced-choice procedure.  There was no
difference in response criterion as a function of age or hearing loss.  Our
bottom line summary was that in Nebraska, all listeners were conservative.

Walt



-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Hornsby [mailto:ben.hornsby@VANDERBILT.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 10:37 AM
To: AUDITORY@LISTS.MCGILL.CA
Subject: Criterion differences when measuring threshold


Hello All,

I'm looking for information about potential criterion differences (during
threshold testing and speech understanding testing) between young and
elderly listeners. Specifically, is there evidence to suggest that a
subject's criterion for responding "I heard it" can change when measuring
thresholds in noise versus thresholds in quiet and does this change vary
between young and elderly?

 

Also any tip toward a reference discussing criterion differences between
young and elderly on speech understanding tasks would be appreciated (I have
Jerger et al (1988) Effect of response criterion on measures of speech
understanding in the elderly).

 

Thanks Much,

 

Ben

 

 

Benjamin W.Y. Hornsby, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

1114 19th Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37212

 

Phone: 615-936-5132

e-mail: ben.hornsby@vanderbilt.edu