Developmental patterns of duration discrimination.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the auditory perceptual abilities of children are characterized by an age-related improvement in duration discrimination. Forty children, ages 4 to 10 years, and 10 adults served as subjects. Difference limens were obtained using a 350-msec broadband noise burst as the standard stimulus in a three-interval forced-choice paradigm. Data were characterized by significant differences between the performances of the 4-, 6-, and 8-year-olds and those of the adults. Acquisition of adult-like discrimination performance was demonstrated between the ages of 8 and 10 years.
Speech and Hearing Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
J L
JL
Elfenbein
A M
AM
Small
J M
JM
Davis
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009622:Noise; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis