Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-154).

Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig Maximilians-Universität zu München, 1979.

This study investigates the performance of two hemispherec-tomized subjects and ten normal subjects on a dichotic binaural frequency fusion (DBFF) test and on a competing dichotic message test. The DBFF test was designed to examine whether binaural integration of two complementary frequency segments of the same word, dichotically presented, necessitates the presence of two intact hemispheres. The competing dichotic message test was presented to provide a measure of the extent of strengthening of ipsilateral pathways in the hemispherectomized subjects. The DBFF test consisted of three fifty-word CNC lists which were processed through two band-pass filters and recorded on a two--channel magnetic tape. The test consisted of two binaural conditions. In the Dichotic A condition, the high band was delivered to the left ear and the low band to the right. The Dichotic B condition was the reverse of the first. For each condition 50 phonetically balanced (PB) words were presented and the subject was required to repeat the word in a 4 second interval between words. The competing dichotic message test consisted of 15 sets of three pairs of words, one of each pair being presented simultaneously to either ear, using stereophonic head-phones. The subject was required to repeat as many words from each set as possible. The Z scores, measuring the deviation in standard deviation units of the raw scores of the operated subjects from the mean scores of the normals indicated that the removal of a hemisphere did not significantly decrease the scores of two hemispherectomized subjects on a DBFF test. Removal of a hemisphere, however, decreased the scores of the hemispherectomees on the competing dichotic message test in one of the ears -- specifically the ear contralateral to the removed hemisphere. A comparative analysis of how the central auditory nervous system (CANS) of a hemispherectomized subject might process a complementary dichotic message (exemplified by the DBFF test), as opposed to a competing dichotic message, provides an interesting basis for a discussion on the nature of the "biological detector" of speech elements in the CANS. / Medicine, Faculty of / Audiology and Speech Sciences, School of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis (MTech (Elec. Eng.))--Peninsula Technikon, 2000. / Word processed copy. Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Among complications associated with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) in school age children, conductive hearing loss has been thoroughly investigated because the symptoms are noticeable and the treatment is often easy to access. Research on central auditory processing disorder [(C)APD] has been rarely explored in this clinical population. However, children with NSCL/P have been reported to have delayed speech and language development, as well as poor academic performance in general compared to craniofacially normal peers, despite their peripheral hearing problems typically resolving with age. In order to investigate suspected (C)APD in children with NSCL/P, the present research program was initiated. The study aimed to utilize a comprehensive test battery to assess auditory status in children with NSCL/P, and to investigate whether they have a greater frequency of (C)APD compared to craniofacially normal children. 147 children with NSCL/P and 60 normal children were recruited. They were Mandarin speakers and attending regular schools. The children with NSCL/P did not have peripheral hearing problems at time of assessment. There were three types of assessment tools used in the present research program. Firstly, hearing health tests were conducted to evaluate peripheral hearing function. Case history and auditory questionnaire reports were completed by caregivers to obtain basic medical and developmental information (Chapter 3). Secondly, auditory behavioral tests of (C)APD functioning were administered, including a gap detection test and a speech in noise recognition test (Chapter 4). Thirdly, an auditory evoked potential (AEP) assessment was conducted as an objective evaluation of the central auditory nervous system (Chapter 5). Based on the results of this research program, it was concluded that, firstly, children with NSCL/P showed behaviors typically found in children with (C)APD when questionnaire results were considered. Children with cleft palate (CP) showed the most negative outcomes, and cleft lip (CL) group children showed results equivalent to craniofacially normal children. Secondly, behavioral assessment results showed that compared to control group children, maturation for temporal resolution abilities was delayed in children with NSCL/P. Also, the ability to use interaural timing and intensity cues for speech recognition in a noisy environment was poorer in children with CP and CLP. Finally, abnormal AEP findings in children with cleft suggested longer neural transmission times and delayed development of the auditory nervous system may occur in this population. In summary, the research program found that children with NSCL/P are at higher risk of auditory processing difficulties compared to craniofacially normal children. In addition, a comprehensive test battery is more appropriate for making an accurate diagnosis of (C)APD in this population than a single assessment protocol. The present research program has contributed to an enhanced awareness of potential (C)APD in children with NSCL/P, which had not been investigated using a comprehensive test battery for a large sample of children with cleft disorders in any previous studies. Since Chinese language specific assessment tools are limited, further studies to develop an appropriate, comprehensive test battery for the diagnosis of auditory processing disorder in Chinese children with oral cleft and to explore effective management of this disorder are required. / published_or_final_version / Speech and Hearing Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the California Consonant Test by manipulating selected variables to determine whether it would be a reliable and valid alternative to the presently used CID W-22 word lists with the sensorineural hearing loss population. This study also looked at the scores obtained on the two discrimination tests and the scores obtained on the Profile Questionnaire for Rating Communicative Performance. In this way, a closer look was taken to determine how much difficulty hearing impaired individuals were reportedly experiencing in understanding speech as compared to their actual performance on the two discrimination tests.The test population consisted of 16 male and 16 female subjects with bilateral symmetrical, sensorineural hearing losses. The CID W-22 Auditory Test and the California Consonant Test (live voice and recorded presentations) were administered to each subject under aided and unaided conditions. At the end of each testing session, each subject was asked to answer the Profile Questionnaire for Rating Communicative Performance in a Home Environment.Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient and t-tests for independent measures were calculated to determine if significant correlations existed.It was concluded from this investigation that the California Consonant Test is a more sensitive indicator of the phoneme difficulties experienced by the individuals with &high frequency sensorineural hearing loss than is the' CID W-22 Auditory Test. Although significant correlations were not obtained between the two discrimination tests and the questionnaire, a question by question analysis indicated that all the individuals had at least some difficulties in all situations proposed in this questionnaire. It would therefore seem that the California Consonant Test is a more accurate indicator of the individual's problems in the communicative situation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of young elementary children with differing auditory language abilities on tests of central auditory functioning (central deafness). Language abilities were based on the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA) and Slosson Oral Reading Test (SORT) level vs. Reading Expectancy level performances. Group A, the control group, scored in the normal range on both the ITPA and the SORT. Groups B and C were both deficient in reading skills by at least one year. The difference between these groups was their ITPA performance. Group C displayed average ITPA profiles while Group B scored significantly lower in auditory skills.Four central deafness tests designed by Willeford and the Sound Mimicry Test of the Goldman-Fristoe-Woodcock Auditory Skills Test Battery were administered to all subjects. A One Way Analysis of Variance was used to analyze differences in performance between groups on all test variables.Pearson Correlation Coefficients were used to study relationships between the ITPA and the central deafness tests and the Sound Mimicry Test. Group B, subjects with poor ITPAauditory subtest scores, also scored significantly lower on two of the central deafness tests. Group C scored significantly lower than the control group only on the Sound Mimicry Test.Great disparity among individual scores within groups detracts from possible conclusions to be drawn from this study. It appears, however, that the two central deafness tests designed to assess brainstem integrity (Binaural Fusion and Alternating Speech) correlate with performances on the ITPA auditory subtests. Scores on the ITPA Auditory Memory subtest appear to correlate with the Sound Mimicry Test suggesting that these subjects experience difficulty with temporal order sequencing tasks. A larger testing population would be necessary to substantiate trends noted in this research.

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.