Relation Between the Screening Checklist for Auditory Processing in Adults and Diagnostic Auditory Processing Test Performance

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the Screening Checklist for Auditory Processing in Adults and the performance of older adults on a battery of diagnostic tests for auditory processing. This was done for two versions of the checklist, one answered by older individuals at risk for auditory processing disorder (APD) and the other by the family of the older adults. Method Forty-nine older adults and 34 of their family members were initially tested with the screening checklist, each being tested with the version developed for them. Approximately half of the older adults had normal pure-tone thresholds, while the others had mild–moderate hearing loss above 2 kHz. The older adults were administered tests of auditory separation/closure, auditory integration, temporal resolution, temporal patterning, and auditory memory and sequencing. Results Most of the older adults and their family members reported of the presence of auditory processing difficulties on the screening checklist. On the diagnostic test battery, many of the older adults, irrespective of their high-frequency hearing sensitivity, failed the tests measuring temporal resolution and auditory integration. The sensitivity and specificity of the checklist answered by the older individuals were 69.05% and 71.43%, respectively. On the other hand, for the checklist answered by the family members, it was 77.78% and 33.33%, respectively. The test–retest reliability of the two versions of the checklist was found to be good. Conclusions As the specificity of the checklist answered by the family members was considerably lower than that answered by the older adults, the use of the version for the latter group is recommended. However, the checklist answered by the caregivers could be used to complement information obtained from the older adults at risk for APD when the older adults are unable to give valid responses. </jats:sec

Screening checklist for auditory processing in adults (SCAP-A): Development and preliminary findings

BackgroundAuditory processing deficits can exist in older adults who have normal hearing sensitivity. However, checklists to screen for the condition are sparse. Hence, the study aimed to develop two screening checklists to identify auditory processing deficits in older adults, one for the individual and one for the family. The study also aimed to compare the responses on the two checklists.Material and MethodsThrough an interview, data were collected using the two developed checklists. The checklists, with 12 questions each, tapped auditory separation/closure, auditory integration, temporal ordering, as well as memory and attention. The checklists were administered on 102 participants aged 55 to 75 years and on 84 family members.ResultsIt was found that 98% of the individuals had difficulty on at least one item of the checklist. Values on the kappa measure of agreement were higher when a 2-point rating scale was used instead of a 3-point one. Responses of older individuals formed five clusters, while those of the family members formed four. Responses to questions within each of the clusters varied; despite this variation, questions that were rated high or low were similar on the two checklists.ConclusionsThe study revealed that a large number of older individuals have symptoms of auditory processing disorders, and the checklists help to detect them. Validation of the checklists, which is in progress, would confirm their utility in detecting subjects with auditory processing difficulties.</jats:sec

PREPROCESSING STRATEGIES AND SPEECH PERCEPTION IN COCHLEAR IMPLANT USERS

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to investigate whether noise reduction algorithms are beneficial for speech perception in the presence of noise in children using cochlear implants. Further, the study also aimed to determine whether any difference in speech perception existed between different pre-processing strategies such as Adaptive Dynamic Range Optimization (ADRO), Autosensitivity Control (ASC), and the two-stage adaptive beam-forming algorithm (Beam) in different signal-tonoise ratios (SNRs).Material and MethodSpeech identification scores of the participants were tested in quiet with the ‘Everyday’ default setting activated. They were also tested using speech in noise at +5 dB and +10 dB SNR with ADRO, ASC, and Beam activated. Exactly 17 children using Nucleus cochlear implants for at least 1 year were tested.ResultsA significant difference was found between performance in quiet (in the ‘Everyday’ default setting) and in the presence of noise (with ADRO, ASC, and Beam). No significant difference was found between the 3 pre-processing strategies at both SNRs and between the 2 SNRs for all 3 strategies.ConclusionsIn conditions where the signal and noise emerge from in front of the listener, no influence of the pre-processing strategies was seen.</jats:sec

AUDIOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND AIDED PERFORMANCE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AUDITORY NEUROPATHY SPECTRUM DISORDER (ANSD) – A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

BackgroundThere is controversy in the literature regarding the utility of amplification in individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). Most of the studies regarding the effect of amplification on speech perception in ANSD have been carried out on children. Only a few investigations have studied this aspect in late onset ANSD. The majority of these studies report no aided improvement, with only a few reporting minimal benefit. Further, none of the studies in late onset ANSD evaluated the relation between audiological test results and aided improvement.AimThe study aimed to investigate the effect of amplification on speech identification scores (SISs) in individuals with late onset ANSD. It also determined a relation between audiological test results and aided improvement.MethodThe retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the clinical records of 64 patients with late onset ANSD.ResultsImprovement in speech identification with hearing aids was observed in 30% of the ears evaluated. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between SISs obtained under headphones and aided performance. However, no relation was found between the degree of hearing loss and the aided performance or on the unaided sound field SIS.ConclusionsUnlike earlier studies, it was found that individuals with late onset ANSD did show improvement in speech perception when using hearing aids. The SIS under headphones was a major indicator of aided performance in adults with late onset ANSD.</jats:sec