Bekesy-tracked aural harmonic distortion thresholds and uncomfortable loudness levels

Sweep-frequency Bekesy audiometry was used to determine the uncomfortable loudness and threshold levels for the perception of an aurally generated harmonic distortion phenomenon in normal and sensorineural hearing impaired listeners. A continuous-interrupted tone crossover uncomfortable loudness level tracking pattern is described which appears to vary with the tracked aural harmonic distortion levels. Hearing impairment was seen to elevate the intensity required to achieve overload and distortion while reducing the range from audiometric threshold to the onset of aural harmonic distortion. Consideration of these findings to suprathreshold audiometric evaluation is discussed.