Relationship between extended high-frequency thresholds and temporal processing abilities in normal-hearing young adults

Abstract Purpose: Auditory temporal processing is crucial to perceive and understand sound within specific intervals. It encompasses various facets, including temporal integration, masking, sequencing, and resolution, which are fundamental for language acquisition and reading skills. Temporal processing is a crucial aspect of auditory perception that can be affected by hearing impairment, particularly in high-frequency ranges. However, there is a notable gap in research focusing on the relationship between extended high-frequency thresholds and temporal processing in young adults with normal hearing. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the potential correlations between high-frequency audiometry and various temporal auditory abilities. Materials and Methods: A correlational research design was adopted in the current study. The study included 60 adults aged 18–25, all with normal-hearing sensitivity. Temporal processing was assessed using the gap in noise (GIN) test, the duration discrimination test (DDT), and the backward masking test. Additionally, extended high-frequency audiometry was administered till 16 kHz. Results: Spearman’s rank correlation was carried out to establish the correlation as the data was non-normally distributed. Data analysis revealed no statistically significant correlations ( P > 0.05) between extended high-frequency audiometry and temporal processing abilities, specifically temporal resolution, discrimination, and masking. Conclusion: Findings of the study suggest that extended high-frequency hearing thresholds may not significantly impact the temporal processing abilities of young adults with normal-hearing sensitivity. Future investigations could involve larger sample sizes and explore the impact of high-frequency hearing loss on auditory processing.