Auditory Development of Frequency Discrimination at Extended High Frequencies. 2021

Srikanta K Mishra, and Lauren Renken, and Michelle Hernandez, and Hansapani Rodrigo
Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA.

Hearing in the extended high frequencies (EHFs; >8 kHz) is perceptually and clinically relevant. Recent work suggests the possible role of EHF audibility in natural listening environments (e.g., spatial hearing) and hidden hearing loss. In this article, we examine the development of frequency discrimination (FD) in the EHFs. Specifically, the objectives of the present study were to answer if the developmental timeline for FD is different for EHFs; and whether the discontinuity of FD thresholds across frequency-representing the hypothetical shift from a temporal to place code-for children occurs at about the same frequency as adults. Thirty-one normal-hearing children (5 to 12 years) and 15 young adults participated in this study. FD thresholds were measured for standard frequencies (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz) and EHFs (10 and 12.5 kHz) using a three-alternative (odd-ball) forced-choice paradigm. Statistical analysis focused on examining the change of FD thresholds as a function of age and estimating the breakpoints in the discrimination threshold-frequency functions. FD performance in younger children for EHFs was nearly six times poorer relative to older children and adults; however, there was no effect of test frequency on the child-adult difference. Change-point detection on group data revealed a higher knot frequency-representing the putative transition from temporal to place mechanisms-for adults (9.8 kHz) than children (~6 kHz). Individual spline functions suggest that the knot frequency varied from 2 to 10 kHz across participants. The present study provides evidence for a similar rate of maturation of FD for EHFs and standard frequencies. FD at EHFs matures by 10 to 12 years of age. Adult listeners may not all use temporal cues up to 10 kHz. Young children are relatively inefficient in using temporal fine-structure cues for FD at frequencies above 6 kHz.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006309 Hearing The ability or act of sensing and transducing ACOUSTIC STIMULATION to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. It is also called audition. Audition
D006320 Hearing Tests Part of an ear examination that measures the ability of sound to reach the brain. Hearing in Noise Test,Quick Speech-in Noise Test (QuickSIN),Real Ear Measurement,Speech in Noise Hearing Test,Ear Measurement, Real,Ear Measurements, Real,Hearing Test,Measurement, Real Ear,Measurements, Real Ear,Quick Speech in Noise Test (QuickSIN),Real Ear Measurements,Test, Hearing,Tests, Hearing
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001307 Auditory Perception The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism. Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory
D001309 Auditory Threshold The audibility limit of discriminating sound intensity and pitch. Auditory Thresholds,Threshold, Auditory,Thresholds, Auditory
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults
D034381 Hearing Loss A general term for the complete or partial loss of the ability to hear from one or both ears. Deafness, Transitory,Hearing Impairment,Hearing Loss, Transitory,Hypoacusis,Transitory Hearing Loss,Deafnesses, Transitory,Hypoacuses,Loss, Hearing,Loss, Transitory Hearing,Transitory Deafness,Transitory Deafnesses,Transitory Hearing Losses

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