Use of the auditory numbers test to evaluate speech perception abilities of hearing-impaired children

A simple auditory test has been developed to assist in determining whether a young hearing-impaired child can perceive spectral aspects of speech or only gross temporal acoustic patterns. This live-voice test requires the child to identify counted sequences and individual numbers. It has been administered by two talkers to 39 children, three-eight years old, with mean hearing levels (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) at 60-130 bB. Resulting scores were bimodally distributed for both talkers, indicating effective separation of the subjects on the basis of minimal auditory function. Scores were related to mean HL, although a range from chance to maximum was obtained for children with audiograms at 100-113 dB. The test is recommended for rapid evaluation of speech perception in young hearing-imparied children to aid in the planning of an aural habilitation program.