Threshold in quiet is individually reproducible to within plus or minus six decibels

Evidence

In order to show the reproducibility of such a tracking of threshold in quiet, two trackings, one with an upward sweep and another with a downward sweep in frequency, are indicated in Fig. 2.2 for the frequency range between 0.3 and 8 kHz. The excursions of the zigzag reach as much as 12 dB, i.e. about ±6 dB. The middle of this zigzag curve is defined as threshold in quiet. As can be seen from the registrations in Fig. 2.2, the threshold in quiet for an individual subject can be determined exactly when using this method. The frequency dependence of the threshold in quiet displayed in Fig. 2.2 is related to a certain subject, however, this frequency dependence is typical and has been recorded in a similar manner by many subjects with normal hearing. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 167