Acoustic reflex thresholds in young and elderly subjects with normal hearing.

This study replicated Silman's [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 66 (1979a)] experiment comparing acoustic reflex thresholds in normal hearing young and elderly subjects. The original study was modified so that the criterion for normal hearing was extended through 8000 Hz, and the range of auditory thresholds among the younger group was selected to approximate those of the elderly subjects as closely as possible. The data confirmed those reported by Silman, showing an elevation of the ART for broadband noise, but nor for tonal activators in the elderly group.