Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore.
Am J Audiol. 2021 Jun 14;30(2):325-340. doi: 10.1044/2021_AJA-20-00153. Epub 2021 May 11.
Purpose Auditory training is known to improve the speech-perception-in-noise (SPIN) skills in children with auditory processing disorders (APDs); however, conventional non-computer-based trainings are dreary and nonmotivating. This study intended to develop a computer-based noise desensitization training module in Indian English and test the efficacy of the same in children with APD having SPIN deficits. There are no such modules available at present to be used in Indian children. Method The module incorporated words-in-noise training, with monosyllables and trisyllables as target words in the presence of speech-shaped noise as well as multitalker babble at different signal-to-noise ratios ranging from +20 to -4 dB SNR. The study included 20 children with SPIN deficits diagnosed with APD and who were recruited randomly to the experimental group who received the training ( = 10; = 11.1 years) and to the control group who did not receive any training ( = 10; = 11.4 years). The outcome measures included behavioral measures and electrophysiological measures (auditory long latency responses for speech in quiet and noise). Results Compared to children in the control group, children in the experimental group exhibited improvements in the SPIN scores as well as temporal processing measures after training. Dichotic consonant-vowel tests and auditory memory and sequencing tests did not yield significant improvement post training. Also, auditory long latency responses in quiet and noise revealed significant reduction in the amplitudes after training. No significant difference was noted in the latencies of auditory long latency responses post training. Control group participants did not show any significant difference in any of the measures between the initial and follow-up evaluations. Conclusions The developed training module was successful in fetching improvements in behavioral and electrophysiological measures. It would be a great addition to the evidence-based rehabilitation support inventory for children with SPIN deficits in India. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14551041.
听觉训练已知可提高听觉处理障碍（APD）儿童的言语感知噪声（SPIN）技能；然而，传统的非计算机基础训练枯燥且缺乏激励性。本研究旨在开发基于计算机的噪声脱敏训练模块，并以印度英语进行测试，以检验其在 SPIN 受损的 APD 儿童中的效果。目前，印度儿童没有这样的模块可供使用。
该模块纳入了噪声中的单词训练，以单音节和三音节作为目标词，在言语噪声和多说话者噪声存在的情况下，以不同的信噪比（从+20 到-4 dB SNR）进行测试。该研究包括 20 名 SPIN 受损、被诊断为 APD 的儿童，他们被随机分配到实验组（n=10；年龄：11.1 岁）和对照组（n=10；年龄：11.4 岁）。研究结果包括行为测量和电生理测量（安静和噪声中的言语听觉长潜伏期反应）。
与对照组儿童相比，实验组儿童在接受训练后，SPIN 分数和时间处理测量均有所提高。在接受训练后，双耳分听辅音-元音测试和听觉记忆和序列测试没有显著改善。此外，安静和噪声中的听觉长潜伏期反应的振幅在训练后显著降低。训练后，听觉长潜伏期反应的潜伏期无显著差异。对照组参与者在初始和随访评估之间的任何测量中均未显示出任何显著差异。
所开发的训练模块成功地提高了行为和电生理测量的效果。它将成为印度 SPIN 受损儿童基于证据的康复支持库存的重要补充。
