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The ontogeny of human hearing
1Department of Otolaryngology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Human fetuses can process sound from 26 weeks gestation, aiding language development. Infants demonstrate early phoneme perception but have higher hearing thresholds and slower temporal processing than adults.
Area of Science:
- Developmental audiology
- Human auditory development
- Infant language acquisition
Background:
- Auditory perception begins in fetal life, with significant development occurring from 26 weeks gestation.
- Early auditory experiences are crucial for subsequent language development and cognitive skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the developmental trajectory of human hearing from the 26th week of fetal life to three years postnatally.
- To explore the role of fetal auditory perception in language development.
- To characterize infant auditory capabilities in comparison to adults.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on human auditory development.
- Analysis of studies on fetal and infant auditory perception and processing.
Main Results:
- Human fetuses perceive, react to, and store auditory information from 26 weeks gestation.
- By 2-3 months postpartum, infants exhibit categorical perception of phonemes, regardless of native language.
- Infants possess adult-like difference limen but have higher thresholds, greater signal-to-noise ratio needs, and slower temporal processing.
Conclusions:
- Auditory development begins in utero and plays a foundational role in language acquisition.
- Infants possess remarkable early auditory processing abilities, though with distinct characteristics compared to adults.
- Understanding these developmental differences is key to identifying potential auditory or language processing issues early on.