Notes on an Artifact in Measurement of the Acoustic Reflex

Abstract

Measures of the acoustic reflex were obtained on 15 subjects with moderate to severe, long-term sensorineural loss. At high sound levels (105 dB SPL and above), the eliciting stimulus can cross over to the ear in which the probe is placed and can interact with the probe tone which is present continuously in that ear. This interaction between the two sounds can be misinterpreted as a reflex. Ways of detecting and avoiding this test artifact are discussed.