Spectral ripple modulation transfer function (SMTF) for listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss. The filled symbols represent listeners with normal hearing. The open symbols represent listeners with hearing loss. The error bars indicate ±1 SD about the mean threshold for each listener group. SMD thresholds are shown on the y axis, and ripple density (cpo) is shown on the x axis Minimal difference is shown in threshold (i.e., SMD) and variance between listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss at low spectral ripple densities (i.e., 0.25 and 0.5 cpo). At higher ripple densities (i.e., 1.0 and 2.0 cpo), listeners with normal hearing had better SMD thresholds and also less variability compared to listeners with hearing loss.