title: Masking by a remote-frequency noise band in children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Werner and Bargones (1991) observed that a 4-10-kHz noise band can mask a 1-kHz signal during infancy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether remote-noise masking extends into the school-aged years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Listeners were 4-6-yr-olds, 7-9-yr-olds, and adults. Detection thresholds were measured for the 1-kHz signal in quiet and in the presence of the remote-frequency noise. In separate conditions, masker level was either 40 or 60 dB SPL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, thresholds for the 1-kHz signal were elevated in the presence of the remote-frequency noise for 4-6-yr-olds, but not for 7-9-yr-olds or adults. Group average thresholds were similar across masker levels, indicating nonperipheral effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Susceptibility to remote-frequency masking in children extends to 4-6 yrs of age for some children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. leibold@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Leibold
authors.forename: Donna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Neff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D055815:Young Adult