The acoustic reflex at low sensation levels.

The acoustic stapedial reflex, which normally occurs at a hearing level of about 80 dB, can be detected at lower levels by means of preactivation. Two techniques are presented, which allow the detection of reflex activity at intensities from 30 to 50 dB HL. It was the authors' intention to find a way to determine the hearing threshold from the stapedius reflex threshold even in patients, in whom the hearing threshold was not horizontal.