Temporal resolution with click and pure tone stimuli in youngsters with normal hearing sensitivity

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the auditory ability of temporal resolution and to compare the random gap detection test (RGDT) versions with pure tone and clicks stimuli. METHODS: Participants were 40 young individuals of both genders with ages between 18 and 25 years, and normal hearing thresholds for the sound frequencies of 250 Hz to 8 kHz. Initially, participants were submitted to the basic audiological evaluation. Then they underwent the RGDT with pure tone and clicks stimuli. Finally, we obtained the temporal acuity threshold, which corresponds to the shorter silence interval in which the patient perceives two sounds, for each type of stimulus, called final temporal acuity threshold for pure tones (mean of the thresholds obtained for 500 Hz, 1k, 2k and 4 kHz), and temporal acuity threshold for clicks. RESULTS: The mean temporal acuity threshold for the sound frequency of 500 Hz was 7.25 ms; for the frequency of 1 kHz was 7.25 ms; for 2 kHz was 6.73 ms; for the frequency of 4 kHz was 6.03 ms. The final temporal acuity threshold was 6.72 ms. The mean temporal acuity threshold for clicks was 6.43 ms. No difference was found between the temporal acuity thresholds obtained with pure tone and clicks stimuli. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in the performance of individuals on the auditory ability of temporal resolution, regardless of the auditory stimulus used.