Forward masking decay slows markedly after masker offset in hearing loss

Evidence

Examining the data obtained at the same SPL (black, filled circles versus unfilled squares), we observe that detection thresholds were very similar for the two groups of listeners as long as the tone pulse was presented within the masker. However, for the presentations occurring after cessation of the masker, we see a marked difference in thresholds between the two groups, where thresholds decreased much more rapidly with signal delay for the listeners with normal hearing than for those with sensorineural hearing loss. Thus, these listeners with sensorineural hearing loss experienced: (a) more forward masking and (b) less of a release from forward masking than those with normal hearing. The reduced release from forward masking suggests that the maskers and signals need to be separated farther in time from one another in order for the listener with hearing loss to experience a return to absolute threshold. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1108

Categorization

• XREF: Links to chapter 5 temporal processing and to signal-detection masking theory laid out in chapters 3-4.