The purpose of the research was to investigate the effects of aircraft noise on the auditory language processing abilities of English First Language (EFL) primary school learners. Schools located in close proximity to airports are exposed to extremely high levels of chronic, yet intermittent noise. These levels have been shown to cause cognitive, health and hearing problems. However, it is unsure whether this long term exposure to these noise levels may cause auditory language processing problems when hearing is normal, which could result in decreased academic performance. This study utilised a non-experimental, cross sectional and descriptive design, as well as a post-hoc design. Seventy children attending schools that are exposed to high levels of noise were matched according to socio-demographic characteristics to seventy children in quieter schools. All the schools were situated in Durban, South Africa, while the noisy schools were located 1.7 km and 1.9 km from the airport and the quieter schools were 4.6km and 3.5km from the airport. All participants are EFL, have attended the respective schools from grade 1, have hearing within normal limits, are in grade 6 or 7, are 12 years or younger, and have no pre-diagnosed learning, auditory or attention problems. Audiological screening and auditory language processing assessments (subtests of the TAPS, PhAB and the Dollaghan and Campbell task) were undertaken. This study utilised various types of statistical analyses, including descriptive methods, Pearson’s chi-squared tests, Fisher’s tests, three-way ANOVAs, Cramer’s V tests and Cohen’s D tests. The results from the schools that are exposed to noise have scored below average in all the auditory processing subtests. This study aimed to provide evidence that not only can hearing be affected by noise, but so too can the processing of sounds, even when hearing is normal. The results of this study are hoped to serve as a motivation for the provision of speech-language therapy and audiology posts within mainstream legislation with regard to schools due to the large amount of children with auditory language processing difficulties in both noisy and quieter schools, as well as for noise treatment surrounding airports and appropriate to zoning of schools around airports to help and prevent this chronic noise interrupting the development of auditory language processing abilities and thus in turn affecting learning.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att ta fram ett svenskt material för att undersöka mottagligheten för semantiska illusioner vid bearbetning av auditivt språkligt meddelande hos vuxna individer utan kommunikationsstörning. Utöver detta syftade även studien till att undersöka om mottaglighet för den semantiska illusionseffekten är relaterad till lexikal åtkomst och arbetsminneskapacitet. I studiens initiala skede utformades det nya testmaterialet Auditivt test av mottaglighet för semantiska illusioner (ATSI). ATSI består av tre deltest, varje deltest innefattar 40 påståenden med en jämn fördelning av sanna påståenden, falska påståenden och illusoriska påståenden. Deltagarna i studien bestod av 30 vuxna individer utan kommunikationsstörning. Deltagarnas uppgift var att avgöra om påståendena i ATSI var sanna eller falska. Utöver ATSI utförde även deltagarna test gällande lexikal åtkomst och arbetsminneskapacitet. Effekten av semantiska illusioner analyserades genom t-test och visade att illusionseffekten var statistiskt signifikant. Resultaten från ATSI korrelerades med deltagarnas prestation gällande lexikal åtkomst och arbetsminneskapacitet. Hur lurade deltagarna blev av den semantiska illusionseffekten korrelerade med lexikal åtkomst. I föreliggande studie kunde inget samband observeras mellan hur lurade deltagarna blev och arbetsminneskapacitet. I diskussionen förs i föreliggande studie resonemang kring varierande metodologiska aspekter likväl som resultatens implikationer för den språkliga bearbetningsprocessen. Slutsatsen i föreliggande studie är att den semantiska illusionen är ett stabilt fenomen som har effekt vid bearbetning av språkligt meddelande auditivt. / The aim of this study was to construct a Swedish test material in order to examine the susceptibility for semantic illusions in adults without any communication disorders when processing verbal input of language. Furthermore the study aimed to investigate if the susceptibility for semantic illusions relates to the individual’s lexical access speed and working memory capacity. In order to accomplish the aim of the study, a new auditory test material called Auditivt Test av mottaglighet för Semantiska Illusioner (ATSI) was created. ATSI consists of three separate test sections, each containing 40 statements with an even distribution of true statements, false statements and statements containing the semantic illusion. The participants had to decide whether each statement was true or false. The participants in this study consisted of 30 adult individuals without communication disorders. Furthermore the participants performed test regarding lexical access speed and working memory capacity. The effects of semantic illusions were analyzed trough t-tests and found to be statistically significant. Correlation analysis were made between result from ATSI and lexical access speed as well as between results from ATSI and working memory capacity. How tricked the participants were by the semantic illusions was related to lexical access, but not working memory capacity. Methodological aspects are discussed in this study as well as the result’s implication for language processing. The conclusion is that semantic illusions is a stabile phenomenon, and it occurs when processing spoken sentences.