Auditory Processing in young children

Some children are having problems with understanding speech in situations with
background noise, despite a normal peripheral hearing. Poor processing of sound
(by brains), so called auditory processing disorder (APD), can be the cause of
these problems. The psychophysical tests, nowadays used in the auditory
centers, to diagnose these problems are poorly useful. However, the ages at
which children presents themselves with these problems is getting younger. With
this research we want to test a newly developed test battery to diagnose
auditory processing disorders at younger ages. With this test battery we will
try to distinguish between patients and controls. If this is possible we will
try to distinguish between a purely auditory and a general problem within the
group of patients, something that is not possible with the current diagnostic
possibilities.

With this study we will investigate if our test battery is able to distinguish
between children with and without suspection of auditory processing disorders.
We also want to investigate the normale development of the auditory system of
children between the ages 4.0 and 7.5.

This study is a case-control study. A new test battery is developed to test
auditory processes in young children. With this test battery we will test two
groups of children: one groep children suspect of APD and one group children,
control population, of a regular primary school.

Participation will not involve any physical risks. The test will take about 30
minutes per child. Besides testing the child, the parents and teacher are asked
to fill in a questionnaire. The filling in will take about 5 minutes per
questionnaire per child. The benefit of participation for the child is the
screening for hearing problems. After participation the child will receive a
little present.