Optimum initial masking level for Plateau seeking method

The purpose of this study is to establish the optimum initial masking level that can be used in “Plateau Method” of masking. The Minimum Effective Masking Level (MEML) of 30 normal hearing ears was determined at octave frequencies from 250Hz to 4000Hz. Mean MEML for the octave frequencies ranged from -1.8 to 0.7 dB SL. There were significant differences of MEML between 250 Hz and 2 KHz, and 250 Hz and 4 KHz (P <0.05) with higher MEML recorded at higher frequencies as compared to 250Hz. MANOVA revealed no significant difference of MEML between male and female across frequencies (P<0.05). Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive significant linear relationship between pure tone level and masker level for all frequencies (P<0.05; 0.95<r