Publication Date

1981

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Franks, John R. (John Robert)

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Communication Disorders

LCSH

Audiometry; Hearing levels

Abstract

The intra-subject reliability of auditory thresholds between 8 and 20 kHz were assessed with three different transducer arrays. Comparisons were also made of average threshold levels and inter-subject variability. A Zwislocki coupler positioned in KEMAR was used as the calibration reference for the transducer arrays. Two such couplers were compared for frequency response equality. Fourteen normal-hearing female university students, aged 21 to 24 years, served as subjects. Thresholds were obtained four times for each frequency with each transducer array via a modified Hughson-Westlake procedure. The output levels of each transducer array were measured 4 times each in 2 different Zwislocki couplers. Results indicated that a transducer array using a rubber-tip impedance probe had the greatest intra-subject reliability. A tweeter held in the near field and a transducer array using a hard-walled cone also demonstrated clinically acceptable intra-subject reliability. The inter-subject reliability for these three transducer arrays were similar. It ranged from about 5 dB at 8 kHz to about 11 dB at 16 and 18 kHz. The two Zwislocki couplers evaluated were not found to be statistically different from each other.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

95 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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