This study compares the effects of unilateral and bilateral ear occlusion on performance of an auditory discrimination task in background noise in adults with auditory figure-ground disorders and normal auditory discrimination ability. The results indicate that ear occlusion improved performance in the majority of adult subjects tested and that unilateral occlusion effectively eliminated the auditory figure-ground disorder in most subjects. The results are discussed in terms of the desirability of prescribing unilateral ear occlusion in the workplace, at home, in social settings, and in the classroom for appropriately diagnosed adults who have figure-ground disorders.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ban, D. (1972). Auditory perceptual disorders. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.
2.
Chalfant, J.C., & Scheffelin, M.A. (1969). Central processing dysfunctions in children (Monograph No. 9). Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.
3.
Goldman, R., Fristoe, M., & Woodcock, R. (1970). Test of auditory discrimination. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
4.
Hasbrouck, J.M. (1980). Performance of students with auditory figure-ground disorders under conditions of unilateral and bilateral ear occlusion. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13. 22–25.
5.
Hasbrouck, J.M. (1983). Diagnosis of auditory perceptual disorders in previously undiagnosed adults. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 16, 206–208.
6.
Kahn, M.S. (1980). Learning problems of the secondary and junior college learning disabled student: Suggested remedies. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 13, 40–44.
7.
Katz, J., & Illmer, R. (1972). Auditory perception in children with learning disabilities. In J. Katz (Ed.), Handbook of clinical audiology (1st ed., pp. 540–563). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Stubblefield. J.H., & Young. C.E. (1975). Central auditory dysfunction in learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8, 32–37.
10.
Wiig E.H., & Semel, E.M. (1976). Language disabilities in children and adolescents. Columbus. OH: Charles E. Merrill.
11.
Willeford, J A., & Billger. J.M. (1978). Auditory perception in children with learning disabilities. In J. Katz (Ed.), Handbook of clinical audiology (2nd ed., pp. 410–425). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
12.
Winer, B.J. (1971). Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill.
