Comparison of Psychoacoustic Abilities, Speech Perception in Noise and Auditory Working Memory in Typically Developing Children with Good and Poor Musical Abilities

Abstract

Music is a multifaceted framework that includes melody, harmony, tuning, tempo, and accent. Appreciating music requires advanced auditory skills, often linked to superior perceptual abilities. While formal training enhances these skills, some individuals, called musical sleepers, exhibit remarkable talents without training. This phenomenon is well-documented in adults but underexplored in children. Studying this relationship in children with innate abilities and neuroplasticity could revolutionise auditory rehabilitation using music. This study compares various auditory skills, such as temporal resolution, binaural resolution, intensity resolution, frequency resolution, timbre resolution, speech perception in noise, and auditory working memory, in typically developing children with differing musical abilities. It also aims to identify crucial auditory skills predicting musical abilities in children. 260 participants, aged 9 to <12 years, were screened for auditory processing disorders and autistic features. Those with normal hearing were included in the study. The Montreal Battery for Evaluation of Musical Abilities (MBEMA) assessed their musical abilities. Based on MBEMA scores, children were classified into groups with good and poor musical abilities. A battery of tests, including the Gap Detection Test (GDT), Differential Limen for Frequency (DLF) and intensity (DLI), Spectral Profile Analysis test (TDT), Interaural Time (ITD) and Level (ILD) differences, Signal to Noise Ratio 50 (SNR-50), Auditory forward (AFDS) and backward digit (ABDS) span task and N-back task were assessed. Children with good musical abilities outperformed peers in all tests except ITD. Significant differences were found in DLF (4 kHz), DLF (500 Hz), TDT, AFDS task, and N-back task. A stepwise regression model identified six significant predictors of musical ability: AFDS task, DLF (4 kHz), N-back task, TDT, SNR-50, and DLI (4 kHz). This study highlights the substantial role of auditory skills in music perception, with frequency resolution, auditory working memory, timbre resolution, and speech perception in noise being crucial.