A software controlled audiometric setup to predict types of hearing loss from types of response delays

Abstract

Diagnosis of certain types of non-organic hearing loss is often confused with organic hearing loss. A software controlled audiometric setup has been designed by the authors for this purpose. Its salient features are (1) partially randomized step sizes, (2) partially uncorrelated increase and decrease in the stimulus intensity after each response or no response of the subject, (3) recording of corresponding response delays of the subject, and (4) providing audio-visual feedback. Its sensitivity, specificity, and applications in clinics and the industry will be discussed.