At 2 kHz bilaterally, children with SSD showed significantly higher hearing thresholds than children with TD (mean difference, left ear 3.4 dB: right ear 4.3 dB), together with a significantly lower SNR in DPOAEs at 2.2 kHz (left ear 5.1 dB mean difference between groups). This was demonstrated as more absent contralateral ASR (right ear SSD 43.7% TD 22.0%), a higher prevalence of minimal hearing loss (MHL, > 15 dB HL at one or more frequencies or ears1-8 kHz and PTA ≤ 20 dB HL, SSD 53.1% TD 24.3%) and EHF hearing impairment (EHF HI, > 20 dB HL at one or more frequencies or ears10-16 kHz, SSD 31.3% TD 24.3%). Children with SSD exhibited significantly less sensitive hearing compared to children with TD. Thirty-two children with SSD and 41 children with typical development (TD) ages 4–5 years participated. Hearing results were analyzed in relation to speech discrimination of phonemic contrasts (quiet and in noise conditions) and reproduction. Middle ear function (wideband tympanometry and acoustic stapedial reflexes, ASR) and inner ear function (audiometric thresholds in the conventional1-8 kHz and extended10-16 kHz high frequency (EHF) range, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs2-10 kHz) were investigated.
In the present study, hearing sensitivity in children with speech sound disorder (SSD) is scrutinized. Results from pediatric speech perception assessments can provide practical information regarding the prognosis of speech, language, reading, and cognitive abilities of children as well as steps that need to be taken in the intervention process. The importance of ongoing speech perception assessment in children is also emphasized because a child's progress over time must be monitored to determine if improvements need to be made with amplification and intervention efforts. A test battery approach is advocated because speech perception is an abstract construct, and in order to provide a comprehensive assessment of a child's capabilities, information is needed from several sources of concrete data. Existing test materials are reviewed with an emphasis on the level of sensitivity and standardization that they have for accurate assessment of a child's speech perception performance. Current considerations in pediatric speech perception assessment are highlighted in this article with a focus on specific test principles and variables that must be addressed when evaluating speech perception performance in children.
0 kommentar(er)
