A comparison between vocal reaction time and word recognition measures of children with APD and age-matched peers using auditory word discrimination test

J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2002;13(2):97-104. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp.2002.13.2.97.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of improving speech recognition testing sensitivity in children with auditory processing disorders (APD) by incorporating response time measures. A group of children identified in a clinical setting as having APD was compared to an age-matched peer group using a vocal reaction time (VRT) format. The participants were between the ages of 5.5 and 15 years. All children were presented spoken monosyllabic words of the clinical Hebrew speech discrimination test. Statistically significant differences were found, with means in the APD children reflecting slower performance than that of their peers. The two groups did not differ in their performance accuracy. These data show that combining response time measures with percent correct scores improved test sensitivity. Such an approach may hold promise for future clinical applications in the assessment of APD.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Audiometry
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / psychology*
  • Bone Conduction / physiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Discrimination, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology*
  • Speech Perception / physiology*