Effects of hearing loss, sex, age, noise exposure and listening skills on the detection of amplitude modulation of a 4-kHz carrier

It has been suggested that amplitude-modulation detection (AMD) thresholds for a 4-kHz carrier presented in a threshold-equalizing noise at a high overall level might be an indicator of hidden hearing disorder (HHD) produced by noise exposure. However, it is not clear if this is the case when HHD co-occurs with audiometric hearing loss. Here, AMD thresholds for such a stimulus were measured for 88 participants with a wide range of ages and hearing losses. Data were gathered on lifetime noise exposure, quantified by the Noise Exposure Structured Interview, and factors that might influence listening skills were assessed via a questionnaire. A multiple linear regression model showed that lower (better) AMD thresholds were associated with higher (worse) audiometric thresholds at high frequencies, sex (males performing better than females), lower Noise Exposure Structured Interview scores, and a history of music practice. The association between AMD thresholds and audiometric thresholds at high frequencies may reflect the loss of cochlear compression with increasing hearing loss, which can lead to lower AMD thresholds. Overall, the results indicate that, while AMD thresholds do tend to worsen with increasing noise exposure, these thresholds are not a good indicator of HHD when HHD co-occurs with hearing loss.