Assessment of auditory processing disorder in children using an adaptive filtered speech test.

OBJECTIVE

One type of test commonly used to assess auditory processing disorder (APD) is the 'filtered words test' (FWT), in which a monaural, low-redundancy speech sample is distorted by using filtering to modify its frequency content. One limitation of the various existing FWTs is that they are performed using a constant level of low-pass filtering, making them prone to ceiling and floor effects that compromise their efficiency and accuracy. A recently developed computer-based test, the University of Canterbury Adaptive Speech Test- Filtered Words (UCAST-FW), uses an adaptive procedure intended to improve the efficiency and sensitivity of the test over its constant-level counterparts.

DESIGN

The UCAST-FW was administered to school-aged children to investigate the ability of the test to distinguish between children with and without APD.

STUDY SAMPLE

Fifteen children aged 7-13 diagnosed with APD, and an aged-matched control group of 10 children with no history of listening difficulties.

RESULTS

Data obtained demonstrates a significant difference between the UCAST-FW results obtained by children with APD and those with normal auditory processing.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide evidence that the UCAST-FW may discriminate between children with and without APD with greater sensitivity than its constant-level counterparts.