ASA 130th Meeting - St. Louis, MO - 1995 Nov 27 .. Dec 01

3aPP9. Loudness-data basis for ``FIG6'' hearing-aid fitting targets.

Mead C. Killion

Etymotic Res., 61 Martin Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Loudness data from Pascoe (1988), Hellman et al. (1991), Lippman (1981) and Lyregaard (1988) provide the basis for a hearing-threshold-based set of three frequency-response fitting targets: one each for 40, 65, and 90 dB SPL inputs. Although individual loudness measurements obtained using either the automated LGOB or LGCM loudness-growth tests generally agree with average data, Niemeyer's (1971) report that subjects with prolonged exposure to intense noise may have loudness discomfort levels elevated by 30 dB or more suggests caution in applying FIG6 to someone who has been wearing powerful linear hearing aids.