[Auditory adaptation and auditory fatigue].

Abstract

Twenty subjects without otological disease were examined for auditory thresholds by Békésy audiometry and by the Feldmann Test (Adaptogramm), before and after noise exposure to one ear of 90 db SPL at 3 kHz for 15 minutes. The exposed ear was also tested for hearing fatigue (TTS). There was no significant correlation between Békésy audiometry and Feldmann test curves or between these adaptation tests and the hearing fatigue test (TTS) after noise exposure. Our results suggest that these methods of measuring adaptation do not correspond, and that adaptation measurements, prior to noise exposure, have no predictive value for hearing fatigue test results following noise exposure. After noise exposure changes were found in the non-exposed ear which were manifested as variability of the Békésy audiometry curves and flattened Feldmann curves. We thought that these results might indicate a central adaptation following noise exposure. There was interference of this so called "central adaptation" with peripheral fatigue in the exposed ear.