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A recent study published in the Journal of the Association for Otorhinolaryngology Research by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) reveals for the first time that children's central auditory system is still developing before puberty, and their binaural pitch fusion ability may be a key therapeutic target for improving language perception in children with hearing impairments.
Binaural pitch fusion refers to the process by which the brain integrates different pitch signals received by the left and right ears into a single auditory perception. This ability is directly related to the famous "cocktail party effect"-the human ability to selectively focus on specific sounds (such as conversations) and suppress background noise in noisy environments.
Patients with "broad binaural fusion" in clinical practice often face difficulties in speech comprehension in noisy environments because they cannot effectively separate multiple sound sources, which seriously affects their learning and social life.
The OHSU team discovered through long-term tracking of auditory development in children aged 6-14 that:
- Binaural fusion in children with normal hearing is also immature: its manifestations are similar to those in adults with hearing loss, but it gradually becomes more acute with age, indicating that central auditory connections continue to develop during childhood and may depend on the accumulation of auditory experience.
- Critical developmental window: Binaural fusion ability improves significantly between the ages of 6 and 14, suggesting that the pre-pubertal period is an important stage for the plasticity of the auditory system.
- Intervention potential for children with hearing loss: By comparing children using hearing aids and cochlear implants, researchers have found that different hearing devices may affect the developmental trajectory of fusion abilities, providing a basis for personalized treatment plans.
"Most surprisingly, the initial binaural fusion in children with normal hearing is similar to that in adults with hearing loss, which overturns our traditional understanding of auditory maturation," emphasized Professor Lina Reiss, the study's corresponding author. "This finding reveals a longer 'extension period' in children's auditory development, providing a valuable window for clinical intervention."
"Improving children's speech recognition in noise is not only about hearing rehabilitation, but also directly affects academic performance and social development," noted Jennifer Fowler, an audiologist and co-author of the research report.
“We should consider interventions to create a quieter classroom environment for learning. For example, using directional microphone systems in the classroom to reduce background noise and ensure that children can clearly hear the teacher’s voice. At the same time, music therapy has been proven to be an effective way to enhance binaural fusion, so it may be possible to develop clinical music therapy programs in the future,” said Jennifer Fowler.
The research team's next step is to use neuroimaging technology to track structural and functional changes in the auditory cortex during childhood development, in order to reveal the biological basis of binaural fusion. "Understanding which neural circuits drive this process will help us design more precise interventions," Professor Reiss envisioned, "such as accelerating the maturation of the auditory pathway through cross-sensory training or neuromodulation techniques."
More information: Lina AJ Reiss et al, Binaural Fusion Sharpens on a Scale of Octaves During Pre-adolescence in Children with Normal Hearing, Hearing Aids, and Bimodal Cochlear Implants, but not Bilateral Cochlear Implants, Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10162-025-00975-4
Information source: medicalxpress
Note: This article is reprinted from 21db Acoustics.