Tyler R S, Conrad-Armes D, Smith P A
J Speech Hear Res. 1984 Sep;27(3):466-74. doi: 10.1044/jshr.2703.466.
In this study we provide some preliminary results of our attempt to measure the perception of tinnitus after the termination of a masker. The minimum level to mask tinnitus was determined for a 1-s masker in 10 subjects with sensorineural tinnitus. A continuous masker (parametrically varied in duration, frequency, and level) was then presented to the ear ipsilateral to the tinnitus. At the termination of the masker, subjects were required to press a button when their tinnitus "first returned" and a second button when it returned to "normal loudness." These response times were recorded automatically, and subjects reported what they heard after each trial. At low-level and short-duration maskers, the tinnitus typically was heard immediately after the masker termination. At higher levels and longer durations, different responses were observed. In two subjects, a silent interval was present after the masker, then the tinnitus returned at a softer loudness before returning to its premasker loudness. In one subject, the tinnitus was louder after the masker, and gradually returned to its premasker loudness. In another subject, the tinnitus returned immediately after the masker, but was softer than before. It then gradually increased to its premasker loudness. In the other two subjects, the tinnitus returned immediately to its normal loudness when the masker was terminated at all masker levels and durations. Higher level and longer duration maskers generally produced greater effects. Masker frequency, however, had little effect.
在本研究中，我们提供了一些初步结果，这些结果来自于我们尝试测量掩蔽器终止后耳鸣感知情况的研究。为10名感音神经性耳鸣患者确定了1秒掩蔽器掩蔽耳鸣的最低水平。然后向耳鸣同侧耳呈现一个连续掩蔽器（在持续时间、频率和强度方面进行参数变化）。在掩蔽器终止时，要求受试者在耳鸣“首次恢复”时按下一个按钮，在耳鸣恢复到“正常响度”时按下第二个按钮。这些反应时间会自动记录下来，并且受试者要报告每次试验后他们听到了什么。在低强度和短持续时间的掩蔽器情况下，耳鸣通常在掩蔽器终止后立即被听到。在更高强度和更长持续时间时，观察到了不同的反应。在两名受试者中，掩蔽器之后出现了一段安静期，然后耳鸣以较柔和的响度恢复，之后再恢复到掩蔽前的响度。在一名受试者中，掩蔽器之后耳鸣更响，然后逐渐恢复到掩蔽前的响度。在另一名受试者中，耳鸣在掩蔽器终止后立即恢复，但比之前更柔和，然后逐渐增加到掩蔽前的响度。在另外两名受试者中，在所有掩蔽器强度和持续时间下，掩蔽器终止时耳鸣立即恢复到正常响度。更高强度和更长持续时间的掩蔽器通常会产生更大的影响。然而，掩蔽器频率的影响很小。
