AudBility: an online program for central auditory processing screening in school-aged children from 6 to 8 years old

ABSTRACT Purpose To analyze the performance of students aged between in an auditory skills screening software program, considering the influence of biological determinants and the correlation of auditory tasks with the behavioral assessment tests of central auditory processing (PAC), as well as to present the cutoff points of the battery. Methods In the first stage, the sample consisted of 96 students with typical development, who underwent hearing screening at school. A self-perception questionnaire and the auditory tasks of sound localization (SL), temporal resolution (TR), temporal ordering of frequency (OT-F) and duration (OT-D), auditory closure (AC), dichotic digit- binaural integration (DD) and figure-ground (FG) were applied. Of these, 66 children participated in the second stage of the study, including basic and behavioral audiological assessment from PAC. Results The gender variable influenced the DD task to the right ear. Age influenced the outcome of five auditory tasks. The right ear performed better in the DD and OT-F tasks. At the age between 6 and 7 years, there was a correlation between screening and diagnosis in the tasks of AC, TR, DD, FG, and OT-F. At the age of 8 years, there was a correlation in the DD and OT-F tasks. The pass/fail criteria varied according to the task and biological determinants. Conclusion There was a correlation between screening and diagnosis in a greater number of tasks in the age group between 6 and 7 years. The cut-off points for the auditory tasks should be analyzed according to age, sex and/or ear side. RESUMO Objetivo Analisar o desempenho de escolares em um programa de triagem das habilidades auditivas, considerando a influência de determinantes biológicos e a correlação das tarefas auditivas com os testes da avaliação comportamental do processamento auditivo central (PAC), bem como apresentar os pontos de corte da bateria. Método Na primeira etapa a amostra foi constituída por 96 escolares com desenvolvimento típico, que passaram pela triagem auditiva escolar. Foi aplicado o questionário de autopercepção e as tarefas auditivas de localização sonora (LS), resolução temporal (RT), ordenação temporal de frequência (OT-F) e duração (OT-D), fechamento auditivo (FA), dicótico de dígitos- integração binaural (DD) e figura-fundo (FF). Dessas, 66 crianças participaram da segunda etapa, incluindo avaliação audiológica básica e comportamental do PAC. Resultados A variável sexo influenciou a tarefa DD à orelha direita