Accurate sound localization is essential for children's communication, safety, and learning. While noise stimuli are commonly used in directional hearing tests in clinical settings, speech stimuli may offer more child-friendly assessments. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare sound localization performance using noise and word stimuli across several groups of children with different types of hearing.
Clinicians conducting pediatric sound-localization assessments should consider that noise and speech stimuli may yield different results; however, definitive stimulus-type recommendations await confirmation from larger or better-controlled studies.
Stimulus choice in pediatric sound-localization testing has direct implications for diagnostic accuracy and may affect fitting and rehabilitation decisions for children with hearing loss.
- 01Compared speech and noise stimuli for sound localization testing in children.
- 02Noise is the conventional stimulus in directional hearing assessments; speech may behave differently.
- 03Published in European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (doi: 10.1007/s00405-026-10415-5).
- 04Findings relevant to audiologists performing spatial hearing evaluations in pediatric populations.
- 05Results may inform standardisation of pediatric localization test protocols.
Speech and noise stimuli produce different results in pediatric sound localization tests.
studypartially supportedNoise stimuli are the most commonly used signal in directional hearing assessments for children.
studysupported- PMID
- 42472921
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00405-026-10415-5.
- Journal
- European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Pediatric patients undergoing sound localization testing
- Intervention
- Speech stimuli for sound localization assessment
- Comparator
- Noise stimuli for sound localization assessment
Primary outcomes
Sound localization accuracy with speech stimuli; Sound localization accuracy with noise stimuli