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Psychometric evaluation of children with auditory processing disorder (APD): comparison with normal-hearing and
Vasiliki Iliadou1, Doris Eva Bamiou
1Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. viliad@auth.gr
Insights
The Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale (CHAPPS) shows clinical utility for assessing listening skills in 12-year-old children with suspected auditory processing disorder (APD). This tool aids in identifying auditory processing deficits in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory processing disorder (APD) affects children's ability to interpret auditory information.
- Accurate assessment tools are crucial for diagnosing APD in pediatric populations.
- The Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale (CHAPPS) is a tool designed to evaluate listening skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical utility of the CHAPPS for evaluating listening ability in 12-year-old children.
- To determine if CHAPPS scores can differentiate between children with and without auditory processing disorder (APD).
Main Methods:
- A prospective case control study involving 97 children aged 11 years 4 months to 12 years 7 months.
- Children were diagnosed with APD based on deficits in nonverbal and auditory processing test batteries.
- Participants were categorized into an APD group (n=38) and a non-APD group (n=20).
Main Results:
- Children with APD scored lower on the CHAPPS Quiet, Ideal, Memory, and Attention subscales compared to the non-APD group.
- Children without APD scored lower on the CHAPPS Noise, Multiple Inputs, and Attention subscales compared to a normal-hearing group.
- Significant correlations were found between auditory processing tests (Dichotic Digits, Duration Pattern) and CHAPPS Attention, Memory, and total scores.
Conclusions:
- The CHAPPS demonstrates clinical utility for assessing listening ability in 12-year-old children suspected of having APD.
- Using CHAPPS with older children may mitigate limitations identified in previous studies.
- CHAPPS can be a valuable tool in the diagnostic process for pediatric auditory processing disorders.
Purpose:
To investigate the clinical utility of the Children's Auditory Processing Performance Scale (CHAPPS; Smoski, Brunt, & Tannahill, 1992) to evaluate listening ability in 12-year-old children referred for auditory processing assessment.
Method:
This was a prospective case control study of 97 children (age range = 11;4 [years;months] to 12;7). Auditory processing disorder (APD) was diagnosed based on findings of deficits on at least 1 nonverbal test and on at least 2 tests of an auditory processing test battery. Clinically referred children were grouped as APD (n = 38) or non-APD (n = 20).
Results:
The study found that (a) the APD group performed lower than the non-APD group on the Quiet, Ideal, Memory (p < .0001), and Attention (p < .05) subscales of the CHAPPS; (b) the non-APD group performed lower than the group with normal hearing on the Noise, Multiple Inputs, and Attention subscales (p < .0001); and (c) there were significant moderate-to-strong correlations (Spearman's ρ > .04) between Dichotic Digits, Duration Pattern tests, and the CHAPPS Attention, Memory, and total scores.
Conclusion:
The CHAPPS may be a clinically useful tool to evaluate listening ability in 12-year-old children suspected of having APD. Restricting use of the CHAPPS to older children may help address its limitations as reported by other studies.
