What phenomenon occurs when the better hearing ear responds during testing of the poorer ear?

The phenomenon that occurs when the better hearing ear responds during the testing of the poorer ear is known as the Shadow Curve. This situation arises during hearing assessments when sound presented to one ear (the poorer hearing ear) is loud enough that it crosses over to the better hearing ear, leading to a false elevation of the hearing threshold for the poorer ear.

In auditory testing, especially with single ear assessments, if the distinction between the two ears is not adequately addressed, the better hearing ear may inadvertently pick up the sounds meant for the poorer ear, which creates the "shadow" effect. Consequently, the results may indicate that the poorer ear has better hearing abilities than it actually does, thus skewing the test results. Recognizing the Shadow Curve is critical in audiometry to accurately assess and diagnose hearing loss.

Other concepts such as Interaural Attenuation relate to the loss of sound energy that occurs as sounds travel from one ear to another, typically affecting sound transmission and perception but not describing the specific scenario in which the better ear responds during testing of the poorer ear. The Occlusion Effect refers to changes in loudness perception due to ear blockage, rather than a crossover response, and Threshold generally refers to the lowest level of sound that a person can