scholarly journals Are “Dichotic” Deficits Uniquely Dichotic? Investigating Dichotic Performance with the Dichotic Digits Difference Test (DDdT) in a Large Clinical Population of Children Referred for an Auditory Processing Assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Cameron ◽  
Harvey Dillon

AbstractPrevious studies in a large population of typically developing (TD) children and a small clinical group showed high correlations between the dichotic and diotic conditions of the Dichotic Digits difference Test (DDdT), as well as between DDdT performance and measures of memory and attention.The purpose of the study was to investigate the performance on the DDdT in a large clinical sample.Correlational analysis between the DDdT diotic condition and the dichotic free recall (FR) right-ear, left-ear, and total (ear-averaged) conditions, as well as between DDdT and memory performance.One hundred one children (6 years 3 months to 15 years 0 month, mean 9 years 6 months) were referred for assessment to the Australian Hearing Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) service. Results were compared with data from 112 TD children collected from previously published studies.Z-scores were used to account for the effect of age on performance. Mean differences between clinical and TD children were investigated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pearson product-moment correlations determined the strength of relationships between DDdT conditions and the number memory forward (NMF) and reversed (NMR) subtests of the Test of Auditory Processing Skills—Third Edition.Performance by the clinical group on the DDdT dichotic FR (RE, LE, and total) conditions was significantly correlated with the diotic condition (r = 0.7; 0.7, 0.8; p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between the DDdT diotic and dichotic FR conditions and the NMF (r = 0.5–0.6, p < 0.001) and NMR (r = 0.2–0.5, p < 0.025–0.001). ANOVA revealed no significant difference between the TD and clinical groups (p = 1.0000) in respect to the advantage they got from dichotic listening (calculated as dichotic FR total minus diotic score). Multiple regression revealed that diotic performance and short-term memory accounted for 68% of the variation in dichotic performance. Random measurement error accounted for a further 16%.Factors other than dichotic performance strongly impact a child’s ability to perform a dichotic digit listening task. This result has widespread implications in respect to the interpretation of CAPD test results.

Author(s):  
Sharon Cameron ◽  
Harvey Dillon

Background: Previous studies in a large population of typically developing (TD) children and a smallclinical group showed high correlations between the dichotic and diotic conditions of the Dichotic Digitsdifference Test (DDdT), as well as between DDdT performance and measures of memory and attention.Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the performance on the DDdT in a large clinical sample.Research Design: Correlational analysis between the DDdT diotic condition and the dichotic free recall (FR)right-ear, left-ear, and total (ear-averaged) conditions, as well as between DDdT and memory performance.Study Sample: One hundred one children (6 years, 3 months to 15 years, 0 months, mean 9 years, 6 months)were referred for assessment to the Australian Hearing Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) service.Results were compared with data from 112 TD children collected from previously published studies.Data Collection and Analysis: Z-scores were used to account for the effect of age on performance.Mean differences between clinical and TD children were investigated using analysis of variance(ANOVA). Pearson product-moment correlations determined the strength of relationships between DDdTconditions and the number memory forward (NMF) and reversed (NMR) subtests of the Test of AuditoryProcessing Skills—Third Edition.Results: Performance by the clinical group on the DDdT dichotic FR (RE, LE, and total) conditions wassignificantly correlated with the diotic condition (r = 0.7; 0.7, 0.8; p < 0.001). Significant correlations werefound between the DDdT diotic and dichotic FR conditions and the NMF (r = 0.5–0.6, p < 0.001) andNMR (r = 0.2–0.5, p < 0.025–0.001). ANOVA revealed no significant difference between the TD andclinical groups (p = 1.0000) in respect to the advantage they got from dichotic listening (calculated asdichotic FR total minus diotic score). Multiple regression revealed that diotic performance and short-termmemory accounted for 68% of the variation in dichotic performance. Random measurement erroraccounted for a further 16%.Conclusions: Factors other than dichotic performance strongly impact a child’s ability to perform a dichoticdigit listening task. This result has widespread implications in respect to the interpretation of CAPDtest results.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (06) ◽  
pp. 470-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Cameron ◽  
Helen Glyde ◽  
Harvey Dillon ◽  
Jessica Whitfield

Background: The Dichotic Digits difference Test (DDdT) was developed to investigate the relationship between dichotic processing and cognitive abilities and, through the use of differential test scores, to provide professionals with a clinical tool that could aid in differentiation of clients with genuine dichotic deficits from those where cognitive disorders affect test performance. The DDdT consists of four subtests: dichotic free recall (FR), dichotic directed left ear, dichotic directed right ear, and diotic. Scores are calculated for six conditions: FR left ear (LE), right ear (RE), and total, as well as the directed left ear, directed right ear, and diotic, and four difference measures: dichotic advantage, RE advantage FR, RE advantage directed, and attention advantage. Purpose: To investigate the role of cognitive abilities on DDdT test performance. Research Design: Correlational analysis between the various DDdT conditions and difference measures, as well as between dichotic, diotic, and cognitive factors (memory, intelligence, and attention). Study Sample: Fifty typically developing children (aged 7 yr 0 mo to 12 yr 1 mo, mean = 9 yr 2 mo) and ten children recruited from the Australian Hearing CAPD Service who were diagnosed with a memory or dichotic deficit (aged 7 yr 0 mo to 15 yr 0 mo, mean = 9 yr 5 mo) took part in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: The Pearson product moment correlations were used to determine the strength of relationships between DDdT conditions as well as relationships between scores on these conditions and performance on the various cognitive assessment tools, which included the number memory forward and reversed subtests of the Test of Auditory Processing Skills – Third Edition, IVA + Plus Continuous Performance Test, and the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence-4 (TONI-4). A parent questionnaire (Fisher’s Auditory Checklist) and a participant questionnaire (Listening Inventory for Education) were also administered. Results: Diotic performance was significantly correlated with performance on all the DDdT dichotic FR conditions (r = 0.6–0.8; p < 0.00001). Further, significant correlations were found between the FR LE, total, and diotic conditions, and the cognitive measures of attention and memory, with r ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 (p < 0.01–0.001). Right-ear performance was not significantly correlated to any cognitive measure, except for FR RE and number memory forward (r = 0.35; p = 0.006). The DDdT dichotic advantage measure was investigated in a subset of clinical children and found to aid in differentiating true dichotic from spurious results. Conclusions: As found in the DDdT normative data study that precedes in the companion paper (DDdT Study Part 1; Cameron et al, 2016), the high correlation between dichotic and diotic performances by the clinical and typically developing participants suggests that factors other than dichotic performance play a substantial role in a child’s ability to perform a dichotic listening task. Indeed, 61% of the variance in FR total scores for the children in this study was accounted for by factors that do not involve the perception of dichotic stimuli. This view is supported by the correlations between measures of attention and memory and dichotic scores. This result has wide-spread implications in respect to interpretation of central auditory processing disorder test results and further investigation of the use of the DDdT in a clinical population is warranted.


2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bolognini ◽  
B. Plancherel ◽  
J. Laget ◽  
P. Stéphan ◽  
O. Halfon

The aim of this study, which was carried out in the French-speacking part of Switzerland, was to examine the relationship between suicide attempts and self-mutilation by adolescents and young adults. The population, aged 14-25 years (N = 308), included a clinical sample of dependent subjects (drug abuse and eating disorders) compared to a control sample. On the basis of the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview ( Sheehan et al., 1998 ), DSM-IV criteria were used for the inclusion of the clinical population. The results concerning the occurrence of suicide attempts as well as on self-mutilation confirm most of the hypotheses postulated: suicidal attempts and self-mutilation were more common in the clinical group compared to the control group, and there was a correlation between suicide attempts and self-mutilation. However, there was only a partial overlap, attesting that suicide and self-harm might correspond to two different types of behaviour.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 408-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Signe Grasel ◽  
Mario Greters ◽  
Maria Goffi-Gomez ◽  
Roseli Bittar ◽  
Raimar Weber ◽  
...  

Introduction The P3 cognitive evoked potential is recorded when a subject correctly identifies, evaluates and processes two different auditory stimuli. Objective to evaluate the latency and amplitude of the P3 evoked potential in 26 cochlear implant users with post-lingual deafness with good or poor speech recognition scores as compared with normal hearing subjects matched for age and educational level. Methods In this prospective cohort study, auditory cortical responses were recorded from 26 post-lingual deaf adult cochlear implant users (19 with good and 7 with poor speech recognition scores) and 26 control subjects. Results There was a significant difference in the P3 latency between cochlear implant users with poor speech recognition scores (G-) and their control group (CG) (p = 0.04), and between G- and cochlear implant users with good speech discrimination (G+) (p = 0.01). We found no significant difference in the P3 latency between the CG and G+. In this study, all G- patients had deafness due to meningitis, which suggests that higher auditory function was impaired too. Conclusion Post-lingual deaf adult cochlear implant users in the G- group had prolonged P3 latencies as compared with the CG and the cochlear implant users in the G+ group. The amplitudes were similar between patients and controls. All G- subjects were deaf due to meningitis. These findings suggest that meningitis may have deleterious effects not only on the peripheral auditory system but on the central auditory processing as well.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (04) ◽  
pp. e399-e406
Author(s):  
Joyce Miranda Santiago ◽  
Cyntia Barbosa Laureano Luiz ◽  
Michele Garcia ◽  
Daniela Gil

Abstract Introduction The auditory structures of the brainstem are involved in binaural interaction, which contributes to sound location and auditory figure-background perception. Objective To investigate the performance of young adults in the masking level difference (MLD) test, brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) with click stimulus, and frequency-following response (FFR), as well as to verify the correlation between the findings, considering the topographic origin of the components of these procedures. Methods A total of 20 female subjects between 18 and 30 years of age, with normal hearing and no complaints concerning central auditory processing underwent a basic audiological evaluation, as well as the MLD test, BAEP and FFR. Results The mean result on the MLD test was of 10.70 dB. There was a statistically significant difference in the absolute latencies of waves I, III and V in the BAEPs of the ears. A change in the FFR characterized by the absence of the C, E and F waves was noticed. There was a statistically significant difference in the positive correlation of wave V in the BAEPs with the MLD. There was a statistically significant difference in the positive correlation of the mean MLD and the V, A and F components of the FFR. Conclusion The mean MLD was adequate. In the BAEPs, we observed that the click stimulus transmission occurred faster in the right ear. The FFR showed absence of some components. The mean MLD correlated positively with the BAEPs and FFR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (06) ◽  
pp. 493-501
Author(s):  
Skylar Trott ◽  
Trey Cline ◽  
Jeffrey Weihing ◽  
Deidra Beshear ◽  
Matthew Bush ◽  
...  

AbstractEstrogen has been identified as playing a key role in many organ systems. Recently, estrogen has been found to be produced in the human brain and is believed contribute to central auditory processing. After menopause, a low estrogen state, many women report hearing loss but demonstrate no deficits in peripheral hearing sensitivity, which support the notion that estrogen plays an effect on central auditory processing. Although animal research on estrogen and hearing loss is extensive, there is little in the literature on the human model.The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between hormonal changes and hearing as it relates to higher auditory function in pre- and postmenopausal (Post-M) females.A prospective, group comparison study.Twenty eight women between the ages of 18 and 70 at the University of Kentucky were recruited.Participants were separated into premenopausal and peri-/Post-M groups. Participants had normal peripheral hearing sensitivity and underwent a behavioral auditory processing battery and electrophysiological evaluation. An analysis of variance was performed to address the aims of the study.Results from the study demonstrated statistically significant difference between groups, where Post-M females had difficulties in spatial hearing abilities as reflected on the Listening in Spatialized Noise Test–Sentences test. In addition, measures on the auditory brainstem response and the middle latency response reflected statistically significant differences between groups with Post-M females having longer latencies.Results from the present study demonstrated significant differences between groups, particularly listening in noise. Females who present with auditory complaints in spite of normal hearing thresholds should have a more extensive audiological evaluation to further evaluate possible central deficits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Krisztina Törő ◽  
Szabolcs Takács ◽  
Gábor Csikós

Anxiety disorder is the most frequent psychiatric problem among children and adolescents. Research proved that resilience can be a protective factor in coping with psychological difficulties. Our research focuses on these aspects of resilience. Aims: We aimed to investigate the resilience and anxiety level of families with adolescents who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders. The clinical sample included 40 adolescents who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders and who received ambulant treatment. (18 boys and 22 girls; age: M=13.37 years, SD=1.46). Members of the control group were recruited from schools and they were normally developing adolescents without any psychiatric diagnosis. (18 boys and 19 girls, age: M=13.7 years; SD=1.56) DASS-21, Ten items Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and self-made demographic sheet were used. Regarding the resilience, a Significant difference was found between the clinical and the sample group both among the mothers and their children. However, in the case of fathers, no discrepancy was found. Our results suggest that there is a significant, moderate positive relationship between the resilience of the mother and their children. Nevertheless, similar mechanisms in the fathers’ case cannot be registered. In the control group, the fathers’ perception of their child’s resilience proved to be the strongest predictive factor (beta=0,495). On the contrary in the clinical group, the maternal perception was more accurate. (beta=0,06). Resilience can serve as a protective factor against anxiety. Our results can be useful for practitioners and draw attention to the importance of intrafamily mechanisms in coping with anxiety and mood disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somia Tawfik ◽  
Randa Amin ◽  
Sahar Ibrahim ◽  
Tayseer Taha Abdel Rahman

Abstract Background Migraine is a neurological disease associated with abnormal excitability in visual, somatosensory, and motor cortex. This study aimed to verify and compare auditory processing performance in migraine patients with and without dizziness and healthy controls. Results Sixty subjects were divided into 3 groups: control group, twenty normal healthy subjects, and study group I (twenty subjects diagnosed with migraine) and study group II (twenty subjects diagnosed with vestibular migraine). They were evaluated using the Central Auditory Processing Questionnaire for adults, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, Psychophysical Central Auditory Tests, including Arabic Speech Intelligibility in Noise Test for adults, Arabic Dichotic Digit Test [version II], Gap in Noise Test, Duration Pattern Test, and Arabic Memory Tests. No significant difference was found between the two study groups I and II, but the significant difference was found between the study groups and the control group in all central auditory test results. Statistically significant difference was found between the control group and study groups I and II regarding all memory tests. The highest percentage of abnormality was present in temporal resolution and selective auditory attention in both study groups. There was no significant statistical correlation between the number of attacks/month and central auditory test results. There was no significant statistical correlation between the frequency of attacks in VM patients and central auditory test results. Conclusions Patients with migraine and vestibular migraine had an inferior performance in all psychophysical central auditory tests when compared with control. Also, there was no significant difference between the 2 study groups regarding central auditory test results which may support that both migraine with and without dizziness have the same pathophysiology.


Author(s):  
Taina Maiza Bilinski Nardez ◽  
Laura Mochiatti Guijo ◽  
Priscila de Araújo Lucas ◽  
Ana Cláudia Vieira Cardoso

Abstract Introduction Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) has been diagnosed through behavioral tests. Moreover, screening tools as validated questionnaires may contribute to identify individuals at risk for this disorder, including adolescents. Objective (1) to characterize and compare adolescents' self-perception regarding their auditory behavior with their parents' perception; (2) to verify their agreement with behavioral evaluation of central auditory processing (CAP). Methods Cross-sectional, prospective, and descriptive study, in which 40 adolescents and 40 parents of both genders participated. All participants answered the scale of auditory behaviors questionnaire, and the behavioral evaluation of CAP was conducted with the adolescents. Findings were analyzed descriptively and inferentially, with a significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0.05) and application of the following tests: Test for equality of two proportions, Chi-squared, and Kappa concordance index. Results Most adolescents rated their auditory behavior as “low risk” for CAPD while their parents rated it as “typical.” When comparing adolescents' self-perception and parents' perception about the auditory behavior with the behavioral evaluation outcome, a statistically significant difference was observed only in adolescents' self-perception. The results of the behavioral evaluation indicated that 42.5% of the adolescents showed alterations. The concordance index between adolescents' self-perception and parents' perception of auditory behavior showed a significant (minimal) difference. Conclusion Most adolescents were able to perceive difficulties regarding their auditory behavior and characterized it as “low risk” for CAPD, but the same did not occur regarding their parents. There was agreement only between the adolescents' self-perception and their performance in the behavioral evaluation of CAP.


2018 ◽  
pp. 143-149
Author(s):  
Azam Aghaie ◽  
Ali Akbar Tahaei ◽  
Farnoush Jarollahi ◽  
Mohammad Kamali

Background and Aim: Decoding deficit is the most common central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Given the benefits of computer-based auditory training programs for treatment of central disorders and the lack of such programs in Persian language, this study aimed to develop a computer-based auditory training program for decoding skill. We also evaluated this program in 8 to12 year old children with CAPD.Methods: The first stage of research was to develop a computer-based auditory training program. This program consists of three levels of phonological discrimination, syllable discrimination, and word discrimination. The second stage was to determine the content and face validity of the program. The third stage was to assess the program effect on five children with decoding deficit. The research method was interventional and had a pretest and post-test design with another five children as control group. The staggered spondaic word, phonemic synthesis (PS) and speech in noise tests was used to assess the children performance before and after training.Results: Mean scores of staggered spondaic word (SSW) and PS tests of the experimental group were significantly difference before and after the auditory training (p<0.05) as compared to control group. However, there was no significant difference with regard to the speech-in-noise test results (p>0.05).Conclusion: This computer-based auditory training program can be considered as a preliminary tool for the rehabilitation and treatment of decoding deficits in children with CAPD.


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