The small but growing body of information about auditory processes in
infancy is a tribute to the ingenuity and persistence of investigators
in this realm. Undeter- red by the frequent expressions of boredom,
rage, and indifference in their subjects, these investigators
nevertheless continue to seek answers to the intrigu- ing but difficult
questions about the course of auditory development. In the spring of
1981, a group of leading scholars and researchers in audi- tion gathered
to discuss the topic, Auditory Development in Infancy, at the 11th
annual psychology symposium at Erindale College, University of Toronto.
They came from both sides of the Atlantic and from various disciplines,
including audiology, neurology, physics, and psychology. They shared
their views on theory and data, as well as their perspectives from the
laboratory and clinic. One unexpected bonus was an unusually
distinguished audience of researchers and clinicians who contributed to
lively discussion within and beyond the formal sessions.