Hearing-impaired frequency discrimination does not correlate with audiogram or frequency selectivity

Evidence

Evaluating models of pitch perception, as mentioned earlier, is often conducted using discrimination experiments. Many studies have demonstrated that listeners with hearing loss experience abnormally large frequency discrimination thresholds for pure tones (FDLs; e.g., Moore & Peters, 1992; Tyler, Wood, & Fernandes, 1983). However, these studies also document a wide range of performance abilities when it comes to frequency discrimination. FDLs can be nearly normal in some listeners, but severely elevated in others. Notably, the audiogram does not correlate with the alterations in pitch perception experienced by these listeners. Further, when frequency selectivity is measured (as was done by both Tyler et al., who measured psychophysical tuning curves, and Moore and Peters, who measured auditory filters using the notched-noise method), FDLs were not correlated with frequency selectivity measures. The lack of correlation is particularly problematic for place models of pitch perception, which would predict that poor frequency selectivity should elevate FDLs. The results from this work provide support for the involvement of the temporal code in the pitch perception of pure tones. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1330

Categorization

• QUESTION: Why would FDLs not correlate with frequency selectivity if poor selectivity should degrade place-based pitch? Points to unresolved role of temporal code.
• SHARE: A clinical audiologist colleague would care that audiogram slope does not predict pitch-discrimination deficits in their patients.