Reflex modulation: a hearing test for the difficult-to-test

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of reflex modulation (RM) audiometry in assessing the hearing sensitivity of difficult-to-test subjects. RM describes the inhibitory effect of a tone upon a subsequently elicited eyeblink reflex. Five ENT subjects were referred to the University of Kansas audiology clinic because of medicolegal problems or doubts regarding their hearing status. After conventional pure tone and speech audiometry had produced equivocal results, the subjects were tested by RM. The study indicates that RM is effective as an objective test of hearing for these subjects. Since RM sensitivity is not frequently dependent, it has a potential role as an adjunct to the brainstem evoked response (BSER) for testing low frequencies.