Model-based predictions of intensity discrimination for normal- and impaired-hearing listeners
Interpretation of psychophysical data from impaired-hearing individuals on intensity discrimination tasks has been confounded by the fact that some impaired individuals' performance is nearnormal in quiet, whereas for others, the difference limen is elevated. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the effects of cochlear impairments on intensity discrimination using a combination of signal detection theory and a computational auditory model. Not only were we able to replicate the trends observed in experimental data, but, by using a model, we could also establish a link between the psychophysical predictions and the underlying physiology. In doing so, we are able to support the hypothesis that the observed behavior is due to the spread of excitation.
