Auditory Development of Frequency Discrimination at Extended High Frequencies.
Abstract
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 ch...Continue Reading
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