Strange Hearing Test?

[Porritt, David]

I agree with whoever said the differences are from the midi
software/hardware in each computer.  I heard quite even progressions but
the tonal changes (inevitable over that wide a frequency range) did have
some subtle "steps".  I think for this to be a valuable diagnostic, the
hardware, software and particularly the firmware of the midi would have
to be very good and consistent.

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Diane Hofstetter
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:07 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Strange Hearing Test?

 

On a hard of hearing chat list that I am subscribed to, someone today
recommended that  non-audiologists can get an idea of where they have
cochlear dead zones by playing the "keys" on this software:
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/pitch/pitch.html and
listening for: 1. how long the sound sustains, 2. whether the pitch
seems to rise when you go up the keyboard and 3. whether the sound is
"clunky".
 
It seems to me to be a flawed test because the tones are not uniform to
begin with--unless I have cochlear dead zones!  
 
To my hearing the tones are 4 seconds in length (the chatlister said 2
seconds--I think that proves my slow computer, not my good hearing),
most of the tones have beats of various speeds, and the harmonic content
is not consistent.  Just some examples of the latter include: B3 vs C4;
G vs G#4; B5 vs. C6 and C#7 vs D7.  (The octave numbers are the ones we
are used to using as pianotechs, not those given in the program.)
 
Now, can anyone tell me whether the examples I gave are the same as each
other and I have cochlear dead zones?  And what would you advise these
hard of hearing folk about the usefulness of this program for testing
hearing?
 
Thanks!
Diane

Diane Hofstetter

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