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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Selective auditory preferences and the use of automated equipment by severely, profoundly and multiply handicapped
Insights
Severely handicapped children demonstrated contingent responding, with profoundly handicapped individuals showing prolonged responses. Auditory preferences in these children aligned with non-handicapped peers at similar developmental stages.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Audiology
- Special Education
Background:
- Understanding early communication and sensory processing in children with severe, profound, and multiple handicaps is crucial for effective intervention.
- Limited research exists on contingent responding and auditory preferences in this specific population.
- Assessing developmental milestones in multiply handicapped children requires specialized methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate contingent responding and auditory preferences in severely, profoundly, and multiply handicapped children.
- To compare the responding patterns and auditory preferences of handicapped children with non-handicapped children at similar developmental levels.
- To identify potential challenges in choice responses for young children with significant developmental delays.
Main Methods:
- Utilized automated equipment to assess contingent responding and auditory preferences.
- Included 15 severely, profoundly, and multiply handicapped children (3-20 months corrected age) and 2 non-handicapped children (5.0 and 9.5 months corrected age).
- Analyzed responding patterns and auditory preferences in relation to developmental level.
Main Results:
- 15 children exhibited contingent responding; the profoundly handicapped group showed prolonged responding.
- Auditory preferences, when present, were consistent with those observed in Down's syndrome and non-handicapped groups at equivalent developmental stages.
- Children functioning at a 5-month developmental level or below experienced difficulties with choice responses.
Conclusions:
- Children with severe and profound handicaps can demonstrate contingent responding, though response patterns may differ.
- Auditory preferences appear to follow developmental trajectories similar to non-handicapped peers, suggesting preserved sensory processing.
- Intervention strategies should consider developmental level and potential difficulties with choice-making in young multiply handicapped children.
Abstract:
Using automated equipment, contingent responding and auditory preferences were examined in 15 severely, profoundly and multiply handicapped children (CMAs 3-20 months) and 2 non-handicapped children at ages 5.0 and 9.5 months. 15 children showed contingent responding; prolonged responding was shown by the profoundly handicapped group. Where auditory preferences were apparent, they were the same as those seen in Down's syndrome and non-handicapped groups at the same developmental level. Children at the 5 months developmental level and less, had difficulty in making choice responses. Implications for intervention are discussed.
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