Normality tests of temporal resolution: random gap detection test and gaps-in-noise

PURPOSE: to evaluate temporal resolution of normal hearing individuals from 20 years old to 60 years old. METHODS: individuals of both genders from 20 to 60 years old have been separated by age in four groups of ten individuals per group. Group I: from 20 years old to 30 years old. Group II: from 31 years old to 40 years old. Group III: from 41 years old to 50 years old. Group IV: from 51 years old to 60 years old. All individuals were submitted to procedures of audiological routine in order to evaluate the central and peripheral hearing. After those tests, they were included in the sample and submitted to temporal resolution tests: Randon-gap-detection-test and Gaps-in-noise. RESULTS: the average values obtained for the gap detection threshold on Gaps-in-noise were around 6ms at Group I and II. For the Group III and IV these values were around 8ms. Regarding the gap detection threshold obtained on Random-gap-detection-test the average values were 10ms at Group I and II. At Group III and IV these values were between 10ms and 15ms. CONCLUSION: the temporal resolution ability worsens with increasing age. The normal values of tests with noise segments (GIN - Gaps in Noise) and pure tone (RGDT - Random Gap Detection Test) are increasing according to age range studied.