Pediatric Assessment of Nonlinguistic Sound Perception: A Look Back and a Look Ahead to a Pediatric Nonlinguistic Sounds Test
Abstract The overwhelming majority of test measures to assess adult and pediatric cochlear implant candidacy, efficacy, and progress are based on speech perception. Nonlinguistic sounds have received comparatively little attention, despite their central importance for incidental learning, daily living and environmental sound awareness. The purpose of this review is to: 1. Highlight the importance of nonlinguistic sound perception, 2. Discuss currently available pediatric nonlinguistic sound perception profiles and behavioral measures, and 3. Describe both the Nonlinguistic Sounds Test (NLST) for adults and adolescents as well as the pediatric Picture-identification Nonlinguistic sounds Inventory for Children (PicNIC).