Auditory sensitivity in preschool children.
Thresholds for octave-band noises with center frequencies of 0.4, 1, 2, 4, and 10 kHz, and 1/3-octave-band noises with center frequencies of 10 and 20 kHz, were obtained from children 3-5 years of age and from a comparison group of adults. Thresholds for all frequencies decreased between 3 and 5 years of age. Thresholds decreased further between 5 years of age and adulthood, except for the 20-kHz stimulus, for which children had lower thresholds than adults. These results are discussed in terms of possible age-related changes in the mechanical properties of the ear and in the efficiency of neural coding.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010897:Pitch Discrimination