Abstract
The measurement of the acoustic reflex threshold is a basic component of the diagnostic audiological test battery that may subject patients to potentially harmful sound pressures. A wide-band acoustic impedance and reflectance system (D. H. Keefe, R. Ling, and J. C. Bulen, 1992) was investigated as a means of obtaining reflex thresholds at a reduced level and as a means of providing a more complete characterization of the reflex than current clinical methods provide. Reflex thresholds obtained by measuring changes in wide-band admittance, reflectance, and power were at least 8 dB lower than those obtained with the standard clinical technique. These reflex- induced changes were accounted for by a simple oscillator model of the middle ear, assuming that the acoustic reflex results in an increase in stiffness. The results support further investigation of reflectance-based measures of the acoustic reflex as a clinical tool and as a means of studying the reflex mechanism.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1029-1041 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1999 |
Keywords
- Acoustic impedance
- Acoustic reflex
- Energy reflectance
- Immittance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
- Speech and Hearing