Abstract
Introduction Even people with normal hearing may have difficulties locating a sound source in
unfavorable sound environments where competitive noise is intense.
Objective To develop, describe, validate and establish the normality curve of the sound localization
test.
Method The sample consisted of 100 healthy subjects with normal hearing, > 18 years old,
who agreed to participate in the study. The sound localization test was applied after
the subjects underwent a tonal audiometry exam. For this purpose, a calibrated free
field test environment was set up. Then, 30 random pure tones were presented in 2
speakers placed at 45° (on the right and on the left sides of the subject), and the
noise was presented from a 3rd speaker, placed at 180°. The noise was presented in 3 hearing situations: optimal
listening condition (no noise), noise in relation to 0 dB, and noise in relation to
- 10 dB. The subject was asked to point out the side where the pure tone was being
perceived, even in the presence of noise.
Results All of the 100 participants performed the test in an average time of 99 seconds.
The average score was 21, the medium score was 23, and the standard deviation was
3.05.
Conclusion The sound localization test proved to be easy to set-up and to apply. The results
obtained in the validation of the test suggest that individuals with normal hearing
should locate 70% of the presented stimuli. The test can constitute an important instrument
in the measurement of noise interference in the ability to locate the sound.
Keywords
hearing - audiology - noise - localization of sound source - sound localization
