2002 Volume 45 Issue 6 Pages 460-468
The pure tone audiogram (PTA), speech intelligibility, temporal resolution and frequency selectivity were measured for the moderate sensorineural hearing loss patients. The temporal resolution was measured by the method of gap detection test in broadband noise. The frequency selectivity was measured in accordance with Zwicker's method. And then the relationship between speech intelligibility and those parameters was studied. There was a wide varied relationship between PTA and the speech intelligibility. The data in this study showed that the temporal resolution was much more important than the frequency selectivity to hear words. The temporal resolution was also detected in eight persons who wore the cochlear implants. There was good relationship between the temporal resolution and the intelligibility of consonance. The temporal resolution seemed to depend on the number of residual cochlear neurons. Lastly I refer that the PTA represents only the static auditory function and that the parameters like the temporal resolution or frequency selectivity seems to be much more important to perceive speech because those parameters represents the dynamic cochlear function. In case of fitting of hearing aids, one should recognize the PTA is a only part of cochlear function.
