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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
Central hearing system maturation in normally hearing children.
Luzia Maria Pozzobom Ventura1, Orozimbo Alves Costa Filho, Kátia de Freitas Alvarenga
1Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru da Universidade de São Paulo. poventi@ig.com.br
Long latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP) reveal gradual maturation of the central auditory system in children. Latency decreases and morphology improves with age, with significant changes observed between children and adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Long latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEP) offer objective insights into the functional status of auditory cortical structures.
- Understanding the maturation of the central auditory system is crucial for identifying developmental trajectories and potential auditory processing disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the developmental maturation of the central auditory system in typically hearing children.
- To analyze age-related changes in LLAEP components (P1, N1, P2) morphology, latency, and amplitude.
Main Methods:
- Recorded LLAEP in 56 normally hearing individuals (46 children, 10 adults) using a double-blind methodology.
- Utilized two recording channels to capture LLAEP and ocular movement artifacts for control.
- Analyzed P1, N1, and P2 component morphology, latency, and amplitude in relation to age and gender.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were found between genders.
- A decrease in latency and improvement in morphology for P1, N1, and P2 components were observed with increasing age.
- Component P1 amplitude decreased with age, while N1 and P2 amplitudes remained stable.
Conclusions:
- The central auditory system undergoes a gradual maturational process.
- The most significant developmental changes in the central auditory system are evident when comparing children to adults.
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