Training in binaural hearing: towards its therapeutic use in clinical practice

Abstract

Background: Interaural level differences (ILD) and interaural time differences (ITD) are binaural cues used in sound localisation and in detection of signals in noisy backgrounds. People with asymmetric hearing loss have poor binaural processing skills. Discrimination performance in ILD and ITD tasks substantially improves with training. Training in binaural hearing may be of clinical benefit to certain populations. Objectives: (1) What is the role of perceptual learning in auditory training? (2) Which regime trains binaural cue discrimination most effectively? Methods: (1) Subjects were trained on an identical, adaptive ILD-discrimination task presented within different procedures in each of four groups, then tested on all procedures post-training. (2) Subjects underwent either blocked or distributed training in ILD or ITD discrimination and were tested at intervals post-training. Results: (1) There was no significant difference in task performance post-training between the groups. (2) ILD and ITD discrimination performance was not significantly different in the blocked and distributed training groups. Conclusions: Perceptual learning occurred rapidly in auditory training. Significant, lasting training effects were found for both ILD and ITD tasks, and both blocked and distributed regimes were equally effective. These findings will guide further work on the potential therapeutic use of auditory training.