What occurs when masking noise is insufficient to eliminate non-test ear responses?

When masking noise is insufficient to eliminate non-test ear responses, it leads to a situation known as under masking. This occurs when the level of masking provided is not adequate to effectively cover the true threshold of the non-test ear, allowing it to still contribute to the responses during testing.

Under masking can significantly distort the results of hearing assessments, as it compromises the validity of thresholds obtained for the test ear. The responses may reflect both the test ear’s hearing level and any residual contributions from the non-test ear, leading to inaccurate hearing results.

In contrast, over masking refers to a situation where the masking noise is so intense that it actually crosses over to the test ear, potentially masking the actual test ear responses. Central masking involves a temporary shift in hearing sensitivity, which is due to central auditory processing rather than inadequate masking levels. Effective masking would imply that the masking noise is sufficient to eliminate any contributions from the non-test ear. Thus, under masking remains the key definition applicable in this context when the masking is not strong enough to eliminate responses from the non-test ear.