Response factors in the choice of reference ear in ABLB

Response patterns and the limits of loudness judgement accuracy were explored in a clinical presentation of the alternate binaural loudness balance (ABLB) procedure, and compared across the two methodological alternatives of using the better or poorer ear as reference ear. It was found: 1) that in the range of judgement uncertainty, responses were strongly influenced by stimulus presentation order; 2) that the magnitude of the range of uncertainty was similar across both methodologies. A suggested clinical procedure which controls for these effects is presented as an Appendix.