[Test Diagnosis of Processing Disorders (APD) in Primary School - a factor analytical study].
Christiane Kiese-Himmel1, Andreas Nickisch2
1Phoniatrisch/Pädaudiologische Psychologie, Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany.
Laryngo- Rhino- Otologie
|September 17, 2020
Summary
This study analyzed Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) test results using factor analysis, identifying four key components: phonematic processing, verbal-auditory memory, fundamental hearing, and low-redundancy speech processing.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neuroscience
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) affect auditory function.
- An eclectic test battery was previously developed for APD diagnosis.
- The content structure of this APD test battery requires examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the underlying content structure of an APD diagnostic test battery.
- To identify the core components of central auditory processing measured by the test battery.
- To contribute to the construct validity of the APD test battery.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to test results from 143 children with APD.
- Principal component analysis was used, with 12 out of 16 diagnostic variables included.
- Promax rotation was employed to interpret the factor structure.
Main Results:
- The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure indicated adequate sampling adequacy (0.739).
- Four factors were identified, accounting for 63.7% of the cumulative variance.
- These factors represent: phonematic processing, verbal-auditory memory, fundamental hearing processing, and processing of low-redundancy speech.
Conclusions:
- A preliminary model of central auditory processes for the APD test battery was developed.
- The study contributes to the construct validity of the APD diagnostic tools.
- The identified components provide a clearer understanding of APD assessment.
