Hearing-impaired listeners give inconsistent sound-quality ratings unlike normal-hearing subjects

Evidence

In contrast, the professional audio people whose audiometric data are shown in Figure 10.6(b) were unable to hear large portions of the lower part of the dynamic range. Without the ability to hear small acoustical details in music and voices (good things) or low-level noises and distortions (bad things) these people were handicapped in their abilities to make good or consistent judgments of sound quality, and this was revealed in their inconsistent ratings of products. It did not prevent them from having opinions, deriving pleasure from music or being able to write articulate dissertations on what they heard, but their opinions were not the same as those of normal hearing persons. Consequently, future listeners underwent audiometric screening, and those with broadband hearing levels in excess of about 20 dB were discouraged from participating. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1069

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the ‘circle of confusion’ concept in Chapter 1 and to the general theme of how expert listening judgments depend on intact hearing.