Work

Comparison of phonemic awareness in children with auditory processing disorder and children without auditory processing disorder using an objective test for assessing phonemic hearing: A preliminary study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Phonemic awareness is defined as the ability to break down a word into smaller units called phonemes or described as the ability to synthesize words from segments of one's own speech. Impaired phonemic hearing, depending on the degree of severity, hinders or prevents speech reception, disrupts the proper development of a child's pronunciation, may cause disorders in already developed speech, and complicates the acquisition of writing skills or disturbs the skill that has already been acquired. OBJECTIVES: To create an objectified tool for phonemic hearing diagnostics to ensure that verbal material is always presented at the same intensity, from the same distance, and in the same direction. Another aim was to compare children with and without auditory processing disorder (APD) if they have disrupted phonemic hearing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study involving 20 individuals was conducted using a sound level meter to determine the level of the auditory stimulus (therapist's voice) provided to patients during the diagnosis. Each participant in the study was tasked with repeating, in the most natural way for them, 2 pairs of words containing opposing sounds. RESULTS: The analysis revealed significant discrepancies both in the articulation of verbal material by different examiners and in the presentation of the same material by a single examiner using different methods. When the same phonemic opposition was presented in an identical manner by different diagnosticians, amplitude differences of up to 10.8 dB were observed, with a standard deviation (SD) of 2.5 dB. These findings underscored the need to develop an objectified tool for phonemic hearing diagnostics to ensure consistency and reliability in assessment. CONCLUSIONS: In the research group encompassing children with APD, disorders within phonemic hearing occur more frequently and have a deeper nature. Phonemic hearing disorders in children are associated with significant difficulties in learning and daily functioning.

Source: Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

DOI: 10.17219/acem/204557

Authors: Andrzej Karol Konopka, Julia Pyttel, Anna Kasprzyk, Grażyna Mielnik-Niedzielska, Artur Niedzielski

Institution: Medical University of Lublin

Language: English

Topic: Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $754