[Time resolution ability of the ear in presbycusis and sensorineural hearing disorders]

Abstract

In psychoacoustical and electrophysiological experiments the time resolution ability in monaural and binaural hearing was investigated for defined signal parameters. The binaural stimulation is characterized by signals of different structure (dichotic stimulation). With regard to different functional changes in the peripheral and central areas of the hearing organ caused by presbycusis, these investigations confirm that there are similar changes in time resolution processes which may influence speech discrimination in presbycusis to a high degree. In patients with sensorineural hearing loss time resolution ability was reduced only slightly. No defined correlation between lack of time resolution ability and type or degree of hearing loss could be established.