Loudness Adaptation in Children

Abstract

Simple loudness adaptation was measured for a steady tone presented alone at 10 dB SL; contralaterally induced adaptation was measured for a steady tone in one ear accompanied by an intermittent tone in the contralateral ear; ipsilaterally induced adaptation was measured for a tone increased intermittently by 15 dB. The method of successive magnitude estimation revealed no differences between 12 adults and 36 children from 9 to 14 years of age in the amounts of adaptation over a 3-min exposure. A second set of experiments with a new group of 20 adults and 20 children used a Békésy tracking procedure to reach similar results. Unlike Kärjä [Acta Oto-Laryngol 1968; (supp 1)241–.1-56], who found significant adaptation in only 5 of 29 children and much adaptation in most adults, we found considerable adaptation in children as well as in adults.

Key Words:

• Loudness
• Adaptation
• Temporal effects
• Age effects