Discussion

The present study measured the alteration in perceptual performance before and during the six months following initial hearing-aid fitting in nine subjects with steeply sloping high-frequency hearing loss. The results focused on the frequency with the best discrimination limen around the hearing-loss cut-off frequency and revealed some modifications in auditory threshold, loudness perception and frequency discrimination around this frequency. While the first two parameters may be explained in terms of peripheral mechanisms such as presbyacusis, the last one could reflect a central plasticity and will be discussed separately.