The gaps-in-noise test: Gap detection thresholds in normal-hearing young adults

• Published in: International journal of audiology Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 238 - 245
• Main Authors: Giannela Samelli, Alessandra, Schochat, Eliane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01-05-2008; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Auditory Perception; Auditory Threshold; Female; Functional Laterality; Gap detection; GIN; Hearing Tests - methods; Humans; Male; Psychoacoustics; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Sex Factors; Speech Perception; Temporal resolution; Test; Time Perception
• ISSN: 1499-2027; 1708-8186
• DOI: 10.1080/14992020801908244

The aim of this study was to establish parameters for the gaps-in-noise test in normal-hearing young adults. One hundred subjects (50 males and 50 females) received an audiological evaluation to rule out hearing loss and auditory processing disorder. The gaps-in-noise test was then conducted on all subjects. The mean gap detection threshold was 4.19 ms. A psychometric function by gap duration was constructed, revealing that the percentage of correct responses was less than or equal to 5% for a gap duration of 2 ms, 10-30% for a gap duration of 3 ms, 60-70% for a gap duration of 4 ms, and over 96% for gap durations of 5 ms or longer. The results suggest that the data obtained can be applied as reference values for future testing. In the subjects evaluated, the gaps-in-noise test proved to be consistent with low variability.