Tone in Noise Detection in Children with a History of Temporary Conductive Hearing Loss

J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2022 Dec;23(6):751-758. doi: 10.1007/s10162-022-00871-1. Epub 2022 Oct 24.

Abstract

Children with a history of temporary conductive hearing loss (CHL) during early development may show long-term impairments in auditory processes that persist after restoration of normal audiometric hearing thresholds. Tones in noise provide a simplified paradigm for studying hearing in noise. Prior research has shown that adults with sensorineural hearing loss may alter their listening strategy to use single-channel energy cues for tone-in-noise (TIN) detection rather than rove-resistant envelope or spectral profile cues. Our objective was to determine the effect of early CHL on TIN detection in healthy children compared to controls. Children ages 4-7 years, with and without a history of CHL due to otitis media with effusion (OME) before age 3 years, participated in a two-alternative forced choice TIN detection task. Audiometric thresholds were normal at the time of testing. Thresholds for detection of a 1000 Hz tone were measured in fixed-level noise and in roving-level noise that made single-channel energy cues unreliable. Participants included 23 controls and 23 with a history of OME-related CHL. TIN thresholds decreased with increasing age across participants. Children in both groups showed similar TIN sensitivity and little or no threshold elevation in the roving-level condition compared to fixed-level tracks, consistent with use of rove-resistant cues. In contrast to older listeners with sensorineural hearing loss, there was no detectable change in TIN sensitivity with roving level for children with a history of OME-related CHL.

Keywords: Envelope processing; Neurodevelopmental audiometrics; Otitis media with effusion; Pediatric hearing loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Hearing
  • Hearing Loss, Conductive / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*
  • Humans
  • Otitis Media with Effusion* / diagnosis