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Normal brief-tone bone-conduction behavioral thresholds using the B-71 transducer: three occlusion conditions
Susan A Small1, David R Stapells
1School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|January 30, 2004
Summary
This study established normal-hearing-level (nHL) bone-conduction thresholds for brief tones in adults. These findings are crucial for accurate auditory brainstem response testing, especially with ear occlusion.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neuroscience
- Hearing Science
Background:
- Accurate bone-conduction thresholds are essential for audiological assessments.
- Understanding the effect of ear occlusion on bone-conduction thresholds is vital for specific testing protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine behavioral bone-conduction thresholds for brief tones in normal-hearing adults.
- To investigate the impact of ear occlusion on these thresholds.
- To establish normative data for 0 dB nHL bone-conduction stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral thresholds were measured in 31 adults with normal hearing.
- Brief tones (500-4000 Hz) were presented via a B-71 bone oscillator.
- Three ear conditions were tested: unoccluded, single-ear occluded, and dual-ear occluded.
Main Results:
- Mean threshold force levels varied across frequencies in the unoccluded condition.
- A significant occlusion effect was noted for 500 Hz and 1000 Hz stimuli.
- Thresholds were established for use as 0 dB nHL for bone-conduction auditory brainstem response testing.
Conclusions:
- The study provides normative bone-conduction thresholds for brief tones in adults.
- Ear occlusion significantly affects bone-conduction thresholds at lower frequencies.
- These data support the use of these thresholds for standardized auditory brainstem response testing.