Download or read book Binaural Interference in Normal Hearing Children written by Robyn Helena Shanley and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study was conducted to determine if the phenomenon of binaural interference occurs in normal hearing children. To investigate the possible presence of binaural interference, comparisons of the participants' right, left, and binaural performance was measured for word recognition test scores and speech-in-noise test scores. To provide evidence of the possible breakdown within the auditory system associated with binaural interference, sub-cortical and cortical tests were used within the test battery. Tonal and speech masking level difference tests (MLDs) were used as sub-cortical tasks. The pitch pattern sequence [motor (MPPS) and verbal (VPPS) response] tests were used as cortical tasks. Normative data was developed for the masking level difference tests and pitch pattern sequence tests. A total of 96 normal hearing children, aged 7 years, 0 months to 12 years, 11 months, were participants. Children were grouped according to age with 16 participants in each of the 6 age groups. Word recognition scores were obtained using the Northwestern University Children's Perception of Speech (NU-CHIPS) test. The Bamford-Kowal-Bench Speech-in-Noise (BKB-SIN) Test was used for sentence-in-noise testing. One of 96 participants (P92) showed significant binaural interference on word recognition testing. Mean group scores (ages 7- 12 years) for the VPPS test ranged from 81.5% to 97.8%. Mean group scores (ages 7- 12 years) for the MPPS test ranged from 87.1% to 98.1%. The mean masking level differences were 7.3 dB for speech stimuli and 12.81 dB for tonal stimuli. Although our original hypothesis, that a small percentage of children would demonstrate binaural interference, was not supported in this study, the data provides a foundation for future research with other populations, such as hearing impaired children and children with (central) auditory processing disorders. The identification of binaural interference in children will provide the audiologist with valuable information useful for hearing aid fittings and counseling of parents with (central) auditory processing disordered children. In addition, this study provides normative data for the pitch pattern sequence tests and the speech and tonal masking level difference tests in children.