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Updated: May 9, 2026
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Assessment of auditory processing disorder in children using an adaptive filtered speech test
Natalie A Rickard1, Uta J Heidtke, Greg A O'Beirne
1* Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury , Christchurch , New Zealand.
Objective:
One type of test commonly used to assess auditory processing disorder (APD) is the 'filtered words test' (FWT), in which a monaural, low-redundancy speech sample is distorted by using filtering to modify its frequency content. One limitation of the various existing FWTs is that they are performed using a constant level of low-pass filtering, making them prone to ceiling and floor effects that compromise their efficiency and accuracy. A recently developed computer-based test, the University of Canterbury Adaptive Speech Test- Filtered Words (UCAST-FW), uses an adaptive procedure intended to improve the efficiency and sensitivity of the test over its constant-level counterparts.
Design:
The UCAST-FW was administered to school-aged children to investigate the ability of the test to distinguish between children with and without APD.
Study Sample:
Fifteen children aged 7-13 diagnosed with APD, and an aged-matched control group of 10 children with no history of listening difficulties.
Results:
Data obtained demonstrates a significant difference between the UCAST-FW results obtained by children with APD and those with normal auditory processing.
Conclusions:
These findings provide evidence that the UCAST-FW may discriminate between children with and without APD with greater sensitivity than its constant-level counterparts.
