The Gaps-in-Noise Test: Gap Detection Thresholds in Normal-Hearing Young Adults

The aim of this study was to establish parameters for the Gaps-in-Noise test in normal-hearing young adults. One hundred subjects (50 males and 50 females) received an audiological evaluation to rule out hearing loss and auditory processing disorder. The Gaps-in-Noise test was then conducted on all subjects. The mean gap detection threshold was 4.19 msec. A psychometric function by gap duration was constructed, revealing that the percentage of correct responses was less than or equal to 5% for a gap duration of 2 msec, 10-30% for a gap duration of 3 msec, 60-70% for a gap duration of 4 msec, and over 96% for gap durations of 5 msec or longer. The results suggest that the data obtained can be applied as reference values for future testing. In the subjects evaluated, the Gaps-in-Noise test proved to be consistent with low variability.