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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Loudness of brief tones measured by magnitude estimation and loudness matching
Michael Epstein1, Mary Florentine
1Institute for Hearing, Speech, and Language and Communications and Digital Signal Processing Center, ECE Department (440 DA), Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. m.epstein@neu.edu
Abstract:
McFadden [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 57, 702-704 (1975)] questioned the accuracy and reliability of magnitude estimation for measuring loudness of tones that vary both in duration and level, whereas Stevens and Hall [Percept. Psychophys. 1, 319-327 (1966)] reported reasonable group data. To gain insight into this discrepancy, the present study compares loudness measures for 5- and 200-ms tones using magnitude estimation and equal-loudness matches from the same listeners. Results indicate that both procedures provide rapid and accurate assessments of group loudness functions for brief tones, but may not be reliable enough to reveal specific characteristics of loudness in individual listeners.
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