Further investigation on loudness balance test for tinnitus

We conducted the loudness balance test at 3 frequencies with the center at the pitch of tinnitus. The subjects were 68 tinnitus ears without hearing loss or associated with cochlear deafness, and their tinnitus pitch was simulated by pure tones. Results obtained were as follows; (1) There were no statistically significant differences among the values of loudness estimated at 3 test frequencies. (2) The values of loudness estimated at 3 test frequencies coincided in about 30% of the subjects. (3) The values of loudness estimated at neighboring 2 test frequencies coincided in about 50% of the subjects. (4) There was a slight negative correlation between the value of loudness and the hearing level at the pitch of tinnitus. (5) There was no clear correlation between the subjective scoring for loudness and the hearing level at the pitch of tinnitus. (6) There were positive correlations among the values of loudness estimated at 3 test frequencies. (7) Correlation coefficients were less than 0.260 between the subjective scoring for loudness and the values of loudness estimated at 3 test frequencies. (8) The optimal evaluating method of subjective scoring for loudness should be re-investigated.