Temporary Threshold Shift as an Index of Noise Susceptibility

Temporary threshold shift after auditory fatigue was measured in 178 subjects with normal hearing prior to their placement in an environment of high-level noise. In addition, two audiograms were made: one, prior to the noise exposure period; the second, eight weeks after its termination. Results indicated that ears showing hearing losses at 3000 and 4000 cps eight weeks after the noise exposure tended to show longer recovery times on the prenoise exposure fatigue test than ears with no change. These findings are discussed in relation to the prediction of noise susceptibility.