Auditory Temporal Resolution in infants with hearing loss

Abstract

　We investigated the gap detection threshold for infants with hearing loss. A total of 32 (6-76 months) infants with hearing loss were administered the gap detection task using infant audiometry procedures, with the responses assessed based on turning of the infants' heads or push of the button.

　The results showed that infants with hearing loss could detect silent gaps in noise. However, it took a long time to assess their gap detection thresholds. Younger infants with hearing aids showed a tendency towards higher thresholds, and infants using cochlear implants showed individual differences in their ability to detect silent gaps. There was a significant correlation between the gap detection thresholds and the degree of concentration or age, but no correlation between the gap detection thresholds and the hearing level or threshold. The response procedure for around three-year old infants was switched from turning the head to pushing the button. Therefore, closer attention to infants' responses should be paid for a precise assessment of the threshold. These findings indicate that there is a possibility of early application on temporal resolution task to infants with hearing loss.