| The behavioral auditory dynamic range has been termed as the range of sound pressure levels spanning approximately 100-120 dB that the auditory system can process from threshold of hearing to a level of discomfort. Researchers have linked this dynamic range to expectations for a range of comfortable listening, anticipating that the two should be related or similar.;The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the proposed relationship between comfortable loudness and dynamic range for speech stimuli, and to determine if these relationships differed by hearing sensitivity. It was expected that better understanding of these relationships would add to the current body of psychoacoustic research regarding loudness comfort. Additionally, the potential relationships between a lower limit of comfort, most comfortable loudness, an upper limit of comfort, speech detection threshold, and loudness discomfort level were evaluated. Participants included forty-nine adults, aged 60-87 years, grouped by hearing sensitivity (15 normal hearing and 34 mild to severe sensorineural hearing impairment).;Measured variables of speech detection threshold, a lower limit of comfort, most comfortable loudness, an upper limit of comfort, and loudness discomfort levels were obtained for each participant. Four calculated ranges were computed from these levels: 1) a lower comfortable loudness range, spanning from the lower limit of comfort to most comfortable loudness; 2) an upper comfortable loudness range, spanning from most comfortable loudness to an upper limit of comfort; 3) comfortable loudness range, spanning from a lower limit of comfort to an upper limit of comfort; and 4) dynamic range, spanning from speech detection threshold to loudness discomfort level.;Results of analyses revealed that all measured variables were significantly different from one another and that all measured variables, except loudness discomfort level, were significantly higher for listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. Loudness discomfort levels were similar for the hearing groups. Calculated ranges of an upper comfortable loudness range and of dynamic range revealed smaller ranges for hearing-impaired listeners than normal hearing listeners. While no significant differences were found for comfortable loudness range, listeners with hearing impairment did exhibit smaller ranges than normal hearing listeners. Positive relationships were found for comfortable loudness range and dynamic range across hearing groups and for each group, revealing that individuals with small comfortable loudness range have small dynamic ranges and individuals with large comfortable loudness range have large dynamic ranges. Further investigation of the positive relationship of comfortable loudness range and dynamic range revealed that comfortable loudness range was approximately half the size for listeners regardless of hearing sensitivity. Limitations and implications of these findings, along with impressions for future research are discussed. |
