Children's Performance on a Binaural Fusion Task

Abstract

Binaural auditory fusion of 108 children (4, 6, and 8 years old) was studied using three lists of monosyllabic words (WIPI) presented at two sensation levels (30 and 40 dB). The words were processed to produce three bandwidth conditions (100, 300, 600 Hz) and were administered via three presentation modes (binaural fusion 1, diotic, binaural fusion 2). Results showed improved discrimination scores with increasing age, sensation level, and filter bandwidth. Diotic scores were better than binaural fusion scores for the narrower bandwidth conditions, but the diotic enhancement effect was seriously compromised in the widest bandwidth (600 Hz) condition. The results confirmed the contention that prior research results were equivocal due, in large measure, to procedural variability. Methods for reducing such variability and enhancing the clinical viability of binaural fusion tasks are suggested.