Effectiveness of a Novel Computer/Tablet-Based Auditory Training Program in Improving Dichotic Listening Skills in Children

Interventions for School-Aged Children with Auditory Processing Disorder: A Scoping Review

“…First, for the AT studies, some of the eligibility measures conducted were linked to the mechanism(s) addressed by the interventions. Inclusion criteria for AT studies involved obtaining abnormal results in tests assessing specific AP abilities, as follows: Dichotic listening (Dichotic Digits Test [DDT]) and temporal patterning (PPT) [ 52 ]; Dichotic listening (DDT), temporal patterning (Pitch Pattern Sequence Test [PPST]), and auditory fusion (Auditory Fusion Test [AFT]) [ 53 ]; Temporal resolution (RGDT), dichotic listening (Paediatric Speech Intelligibility—PSI test), and/or (Nonverbal Dichotic Test [NVDT]) [ 72 ]; Dichotic listening only: DDT [ 74 , 81 ]; Persian Randomized Dichotic Digits Test (PRDDT), Persian Competing Words Test (PCWT), Persian Competing Sentences Test (PCST) [ 59 ]; and Competing Words Test (CWT), Randomized Dichotic Digits Test (RDDT) [ 62 ]; DDT with abnormal right ear advantage (REA), temporal patterning (PPST) and selective attention (Monaural Selective Auditory Attention Test [mSAAT]) [ 65 ]; Temporal patterning (Frequency Pattern Test [FPT]) [ 47 ]; Temporal patterning (Persian PST [P-PST]) and dichotic listening (Persian-SSW [P-SSW]) [ 61 ]; Spatial processing (LiSN-S) [ 45 , 46 , 48 ]; Auditory figure ground (AFG test) [ 54 ]; Dichotic listening, temporal patterning and selective memory (Multiple Auditory Processing Assessment [MAPA]), dichotic listening (Spectro-Temporal Modulation (STM) detection tasks) and SIN perception (Consonant–Vowel in Noise [CVN]) and Words in Noise Test [WIN]) [ 60 ]; SIN perception (Monaural Speech Identification Test) [ 55 ]; Temporal patterning (Duration Pattern Test [DPT]) [ 56 ]. …”

“…Dichotic listening only: DDT [ 74 , 81 ]; Persian Randomized Dichotic Digits Test (PRDDT), Persian Competing Words Test (PCWT), Persian Competing Sentences Test (PCST) [ 59 ]; and Competing Words Test (CWT), Randomized Dichotic Digits Test (RDDT) [ 62 ];…”

“…Seven studies examined the impact of dichotic listening training [ 59 , 62 , 65 , 74 , 77 , 78 , 81 ]; two focused on localization and lateralization abilities [ 64 , 66 ]; and three investigated the impact of spatial processing intervention [ 45 , 46 , 48 ]. One examined the effect of singing lessons on pitch and rhythm development [ 49 ], one evaluated musical pitch training [ 47 ], one focused on temporal patterning training [ 56 ], one focused on phonemic training [ 61 ], and nine evaluated the impact of SIN training [ 38 , 39 , 50 , 51 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 71 ].…”

“…The interventions aiming at improving dichotic listening used two approaches. The first one involved presenting different stimuli to both ears at various interaural time intervals [ 59 , 65 , 74 , 77 , 78 ]. As the training progresses and the child successfully completes tasks, the stimuli are gradually presented with decreased time intervals until they are eventually presented simultaneously.…”

“…As the training progresses and the child successfully completes tasks, the stimuli are gradually presented with decreased time intervals until they are eventually presented simultaneously. In some training programs, the stimuli start in the better ear [ 59 ], while in other programs, there is a variation in which the ear that receives the stimuli first (leading ear) may change [ 74 ]. Participants are asked to repeat what they hear in both ears (binaural integration tasks) or in one ear only (binaural separation tasks).…”