title: Assessment of auditory processing disorder in children using an adaptive filtered speech test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One type of test commonly used to assess auditory processing disorder (APD) is the 'filtered words test' (FWT), in which a monaural, low-redundancy speech sample is distorted by using filtering to modify its frequency content. One limitation of the various existing FWTs is that they are performed using a constant level of low-pass filtering, making them prone to ceiling and floor effects that compromise their efficiency and accuracy. A recently developed computer-based test, the University of Canterbury Adaptive Speech Test- Filtered Words (UCAST-FW), uses an adaptive procedure intended to improve the efficiency and sensitivity of the test over its constant-level counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The UCAST-FW was administered to school-aged children to investigate the ability of the test to distinguish between children with and without APD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen children aged 7-13 diagnosed with APD, and an aged-matched control group of 10 children with no history of listening difficulties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data obtained demonstrates a significant difference between the UCAST-FW results obtained by children with APD and those with normal auditory processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide evidence that the UCAST-FW may discriminate between children with and without APD with greater sensitivity than its constant-level counterparts.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury , Christchurch , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rickard
authors.forename: Uta J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Heidtke
authors.forename: Greg A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: O'Beirne
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods*; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception