HP RM500SL manual Sensory Loss Simulator, Sensory loss simulator description

13Sensory Loss Simulator

13.1Sensory loss simulator description

A pure conductive loss attenuates loud and soft sounds equally, and is easily simulated by just turning down the volume or inserting an earplug. Losses of a sensory nature are more complex and more difficult to simulate.

The most common sensory loss is caused by outer hair cell damage and results in loss of audibility for soft sounds but near-normal loudness for loud sounds. Inner hair cell damage elevates threshold and reduces loudness for both soft and loud sounds, possibly somewhat more for soft sounds.

This sensory loss simulator (SLS) is intended to allow normal-hearing listeners to hear sounds as if they had the elevated threshold and altered loudness perception caused by outer and inner hair cell damage. It is based on the cochlear hearing loss model described in Moore & Glasberg (2004).

In this simulation, losses less than 58 dB SPL are considered to be due entirely to outer hair cell damage. Any loss greater than this is considered inner hair cell loss.

This SLS does not simulate broadening of the auditory filters or other distortions that may accompany cochlear hearing loss.

For comparison purposes, a simulation of a purely conductive loss is also provided.

To properly experience the simulation, listeners should be within 1m of the REM speaker and in a quiet room.

FastFacts 13.1: Sensory loss simulator description

13.2 Sensory loss simulator operation

Listeners should be within 1m of the REM speaker and in a quiet room.

1)Press <Tests>, then highlight and <PICK> [Sensory loss simulator].

2)If an audiogram has previously been entered in Speechmap or Insertion gain, go to step 4. Otherwise, highlight and <PICK> [Audiometry].

3)Enter HL threshold values using a mouse or the keypad. Left click the mouse on the audiogram form to enter a point. Click again to delete the point. On the keypad use the arrow keys to change frequency and level and press <PICK> to enter or delete a threshold point.

4)Press <Continue> when all points have been entered. See 16.4: Audiometric

data entry or 18.2: Assessment data entry for more details.

5)Highlight and <PICK> [Start test]. Sound, processed to simulate the entered hearing loss, will be presented via the REM speaker.

6)Highlight and <PICK> [Stimulus], then highlight and <PICK> a sound to play.

7)Highlight and <PICK> [Hearing], then highlight and <PICK> from [Normal, ½ Entered loss, Entered loss].

8)Highlight and <PICK> [Type of loss] to toggle between [Sensorineural] and [Conductive] hearing loss simulations.

9)Highlight and <PICK> [Cancel] to stop the simulation.

FastFacts 13.2: Sensory loss simulator operation

0611 RM500SL User’s Guide Version 2.8 Page 58