Arousing Effect of Sounds for Testing Infants Hearing Ability

In order to identify the sounds that best produce orienting reflexes, 38 infants were examined. The infants' ages ranged from 6 to 21 months. Altogether, 42 different calibrated sounds were presented to the infants in random order at 45 dB (A). The sounds were recorded on tapes and were given through loudspeakers placed on each side of the infant. The best sounds proved to be human voice, bird song and chime. The most effective human voice was an infant's crying. An infant is more apt to react to complicated sounds than to pure tones or warble tones. In order to be audiologically acceptable, the sounds must be well calibrated.