Conductive losses act as filters but sensorineural losses add distortions beyond attenuation.

Evidence

Pathological earS show tuning curves that may differ from those produced by normally hearing subjects. To make this comparison possible, the tuning curve of normally hearing subjects is also indicated in the data of listeners with pathological hearing. The first example is of a group with conductive hearing loss (Fig. 16.22). It can be clearly seen, by comparing the tuning curves of normally hearing suhjects with those produced by listeners with conductive hearing loss, that in the latter case the whole tuning curve is shifted upwards by ahout 30 dB. These 30 dB correspond to the hearing loss. This means that although there exists a hearing loss of 30 dB, the frequency resolution outlined in the psychoacoustical tuning curve does not change for the group with conductive hearing loss. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1884 (#expands, via linked claim)

If the waveform changes as a function of signal or sound level those changes are non-linear distortions—these non-linear mechanisms add frequencies to the signal that were not there originally and are especially objectionable if they are high enough to be audible. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 946 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conductive hearing loss shifts tuning curves upward without degrading frequency resolution. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1884; Nonlinear distortion adds frequencies that were not in the original signal — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 946

Related

• Conductive hearing loss shifts tuning curves upward without degrading frequency resolution. (similarity 0.91)
• The ear becomes less nonlinear as sound levels rise (similarity 0.85)
• Nonlinear distortion adds frequencies that were not in the original signal (similarity 0.84)
• Conductive hearing loss can be modeled as a filter, but sensorineural loss cannot (similarity 0.84)
• Bone conduction isolates cochlear function from outer and middle ear disorders (similarity 0.83)
• Hearing loss squeezes the full loudness range into a much smaller dynamic range (similarity 0.83)
• Sensorineural hearing loss compresses the full loudness range into fewer decibels (similarity 0.83)
• Hearing loss acts like a filter attenuating specific frequencies (similarity 0.83)
• Sensorineural hearing loss reduces contrast in F0-synchronized neural rates across frequency (similarity 0.83)
• The hearing system becomes less nonlinear at higher input levels. (similarity 0.82)
• Psychoacoustic tuning curves directly reflect cochlear mechanical processing. (similarity 0.82)
• Hearing loss varies independently across different frequency ranges (similarity 0.82)
• Both conductive and sensorineural damage drastically alters absolute threshold curves. (similarity 0.82)
• Hearing loss widens critical bands and alters music perception itself (similarity 0.82)
• Averaging hearing loss across frequencies can mask serious impairment (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Conductive hearing loss shifts tuning curves upward without degrading frequency resolution. #expands (0.90) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1884
• Nonlinear distortion adds frequencies that were not in the original signal #expands (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 946