Development and standardization of SCAN-C Test for Auditory Processing Disorders in Children

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) significantly impact children's learning and communication.
• Standardized, reliable assessment tools are crucial for diagnosing APD in pediatric populations.
• Previous versions of auditory processing tests required updates for improved usability and diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the development and standardization of the revised SCAN-C: Test for Auditory Processing Disorders in Children.
• To introduce updated test instructions, stimuli, and subtests for enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
• To establish normative data and evaluate the psychometric properties of the revised SCAN-C.

Main Methods:

• Development of revised test instructions and aural stimuli (compact disc).
• Revision of the Competing Words subtest and addition of a Competing Sentences subtest.
• Standardization on 650 children aged 5 years, 0 months, to 11 years, 11 months, including reliability and validity testing.

Main Results:

• Normative data demonstrated systematic performance improvement with increasing age.
• A new composite standard score calculation provides equal weighting to all subtests.
• Subtest test-retest reliability improved significantly (correlations .65–.82 for 5–7 year olds).
• Concurrent validity confirmed SCAN-C results are as reliable as the original SCAN.

Conclusions:

• The revised SCAN-C is a standardized and psychometrically sound tool for assessing auditory processing disorders in children.
• Updated features enhance ease of use for young children and improve diagnostic precision.
• The SCAN-C provides reliable and valid data for clinical and research applications in pediatric audiology.