Corneal-Reflection Eye-Tracking Technique for the Assessment of Horizontal Sound Localization Accuracy from 6 Months of Age

Abstract

Corneal-reflection eye-tracking provides an objective and fast assessment of horizontal SLA from about 6 months of age and may enable gaze to be used as an objective measure for sound localization in this age group. Infant SLA is immature and improvements are related to increasing age. Adults show high overall SLA and low intra- and intersubject variability in SLA. The technique may be used as a clinical tool for the evaluation of very early intervention in a young, preverbal population and throughout the life span.

Adults with unilateral congenital ear canal atresia – sound localization ability and recognition of speech in competing speech in unaided condition

“…The method of measuring sound localization with corneal reflection eye tracking in the present setting is particularly useful in children, since it is objective and does not require active responses [8]. Here, we show that it also facilitates rapid acquisition of sound localization responses in an adult clinical cohort.…”

“…Horizontal SLA was assessed using an objective technique [8] based on eye tracking. Briefly, the subject was seated in a double-walled sound booth in front of 12 loudspeakers with a corresponding visual display below each loudspeaker as visualized in Figure 1.…”

“…The aim of this prospective study of patients with UCA, deprived of symmetric binaural stimulation during crucial developmental periods before 12 years of age [7], was to examine to what extent unilateral conductive hearing loss affects localization ability and speech recognition in acoustically challenging conditions. A new method for this specific patient group measuring sound localization ability was used, the corneal reflection eye tracking technique [8]. Methods to assess sound localization and speech recognition abilities aimed to replicate real life situations.…”

Horizontal sound localisation accuracy in individuals with conductive hearing loss: effect of the bone conduction implant

“…Individuals with uCHL and bCHL were tested in sound-field in an objective sound localisation task, shown to be reliable in children and adults (Asp, Olofsson, and Berninger 2016) as well as sensitive to sound localisation deficits for mild-to-moderate unilateral hearing losses (Asp, Jakobsson, and Berninger 2018). Tests were performed in unaided and unilaterally aided conditions, using a continuous stimulus with a spectrum similar to female speech presented at two different levels (63 dB SPL (A) and 73 dB SPL (A)).…”

“…The main outcome measure was the error index (EI) (e.g. Gardner and Gardner 1973;Asp, Olofsson, and Berninger 2016), which is an overall quantification of SLA, ranging from 0 (perfect performance) to 1 (random performance).…”