THRESHOLD OF FEELING IN THE EAR IN RELATION TO SOUND PRESSURES

Abstract

The threshold of feeling in the ear resulting from stimulation by relatively great sound pressures has been investigated principally by physicists interested in acoustic phenomena in relation to hearing. Previous study of this threshold has been concerned chiefly with persons with normal hearing. This paper extends these investigations into the field of pathology. A review of the literature on the threshold of feeling reveals the following conclusions: A. The threshold of feeling probably bears no relation to stimulation of the auditory nerve.¹B. Approximately the same values of sound pressures are required to elicit the threshold in both normal and abnormal ears.¹C. The pressure required to elicit the threshold of feeling in the ear is about the same as that required to excite the tactile nerves in the finger-tips.¹D. The quality of the sensation varies with the frequency and the pressure.¹E