Temporal Integration of Acoustic Energy in Patients with Presbyacusis

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Abstract
The ability to integrate acoustic energy over time, i.e. temporal integration, can be measured by short tone audiometry. Abnormal temporal integration has been considered as one of the reasons for reduced discrimination in hearing impaired ears. The results of short tone audiometry in 46 persons with presbyacusis are reported. The frequencies 500 Hz, 1 000 Hz, 4 000 Hz, and 8 000 Hz are investigated. The results show that the ability to integrate acoustic energy over time in patients with presbyacusis is reduced compared to normals. It was possible to demonstrate quantitatively a relationship between the amount of hearing loss and the temporal integration. The difficulties in discrimination for patients with sensory-neural hearing loss may to some extent be explained from the reduced temporal integration.