Examination of Two Issues concerning Functional Gain Measurements

Abstract

The test-retest variability of aided sound-field thresholds and the feasibility of using corrected 2-cm 3 coupler gain values to predict individual functional gain were examined. Test-retest data were used to generate critical differences (in dB) for statistical significance between two aided sound-field thresholds. To be significantly different at the .05 level, two aided thresholds would have to differ by greater than 15 dB. Functional gain and 2-cm 3 coupler gain were compared for 20 subjects using careful measurement procedures. Individual variability in the difference between functional gain and 2-cm 3 coupler gain was reduced substantially from previous studies and indicates that corrected coupler gain measurements may have some clinical utility.