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The normal range of auditory sensitivity for pure-tone signals (8000 to 18 000 Hz) has been well bracketed in laboratory studies, generally with experienced listeners. This study reports results obtained during a field survey of high-frequency hearing conducted with 237 subjects at the 1968 Denver ASHA Convention. These results agree quite closely with data from the laboratory studies. The purposes of this study are threefold: (1) to report high-frequency field survey audiometric thresholds as a function of age and sex; (2) to review and compare results of all previous reports of high-frequency hearing threshold studies, with particular attention to differences in calibration techniques; and (3) to recommend the Zislis and Fletcher [-J. Aud. Res. 6, 189-198 (1966)J threshold results obtained from sixth through 12th grade girls, with smoothing and minor modifications at 16 and 18 kHz, as the best representation of the "most sensitive hearing" for frequencies from 8000 to 18 000 Hz. It is recommended that these values be used as an interim standard until such time as official standard values are promulgated.

Results suggest that blast-exposed participants have more difficulty than non-blast-exposed participants in localizing sounds in complex acoustic environments. This apparent deficit in spatial hearing ability highlights the need to develop new diagnostic tests using complex listening tasks that involve multiple sound sources that require speech segregation and comprehension.

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