Masking pattern in listeners with age-related hearing impairment

Masking patterns for 1 kHz pure tone at 20, 40 and 60 dB SL were examined in listeners with age-related hearing impairment and in subjects with normal hearing. As has been reported, as the masking level was elevated, the masking effect increased and spread especially towards higher frequencies as well as around the masker frequency. In listeners with impaired hearing, the spread of masking effects towards the higher frequencies was significantly larger as the hearing level deteriorated. The results of the present study are thought to reflect the broader auditory filter in impaired listeners, particularly on the low frequency side.