Different time courses of maturation for learning and generalization following auditory training in children

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: We recently demonstrated that learning abilities among school-age children vary following frequency discrimination (FD) training, with some exhibiting mature adult-like learning while others performing poorly (non-adult-like learners). This study tested the hypothesis that children’s post-training generalisation is related to their learning maturity. Additionally, it investigated how training duration influences children’s generalisation, considering the observed decrease with increased training in adults. Design: Generalisation to the untrained ear and untrained 2000 Hz frequency was assessed following single-session or nine-session 1000 Hz FD training, using an adaptive forced-choice procedure. Two additional groups served as controls for the untrained frequency. Study sample: Fifty-four children aged 7–9 years and 59 adults aged 18–30 years. Results: (1) Only adult-like learners generalised their learning gains across frequency or ear, albeit less efficiently than adults; (2) As training duration increased children experienced reduced generalisation, similar to adults; (3) Children’s performance in the untrained tasks correlated strongly with their trained task performance after the first training session. Conclusions: Auditory skill learning and its generalisation do not necessarily mature contemporaneously, although mature learning is a prerequisite for mature generalisation. Furthermore, in children, as in adults, more practice makes rather specific experts. These findings should be considered when designing training programs.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Audiology
Early online date21 Aug 2024
DOIs
StatePublished Online - 21 Aug 2024

Keywords

  • Auditory training
  • frequency discrimination
  • generalization
  • school-age children
  • skill learning

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Speech and Hearing
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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