Which procedure is used to adjust masker and tone levels to find a stable threshold?

The Plateau Procedure for Masking is specifically designed to adjust masker and tone levels to determine a stable hearing threshold in individuals with hearing loss. This procedure is essential when testing patients to ensure accurate audiometric results, particularly in cases where there is a significant air-bone gap or when determining the effectiveness of masking in the non-test ear.

During the Plateau Procedure, the audiologist incrementally raises the masker level while keeping the tone level constant until a point is reached where the threshold remains stable across multiple presentations. This stable threshold indicates that the test is properly isolating the tone being assessed, providing a clear measure of the individual's hearing sensitivity under masking conditions. The process involves finding a "plateau" where further increases in the masker do not affect the threshold of the tone, confirming that the threshold has been accurately determined and is reliable.

In contrast, the Modified Rinne Test focuses on comparing air and bone conduction to assess the type of hearing loss rather than adjusting levels for masking. The Speech Reception Threshold Test is used to determine the lowest intensity at which a patient can recognize speech but does not involve adjusting maskers for pure tone thresholds. Bone Conduction Testing evaluates the inner ear's response without the influence of air conduction, also not addressing the need for masker adjustment