title: Assessment of early auditory development of very young Finnish children with LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire and McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analysed the Finnish version of the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire as a method for assessing very young children's early auditory, pre-verbal and emerging verbal development. We also examined whether any background factors exist that influence the results and thus the usability of this method. To determine its potential in assessment, the Finnish version of the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire was analysed in relation to the Finnish McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories. The latter is currently the method most commonly used together with parental interviews. However, this method is neither designed for infants younger than 8 months nor is its main emphasis on auditory development. Thus, we investigated whether the Finnish version of LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire could supplement the Finnish McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories and thereby help in detecting children with hearing impairments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normative data were collected for Finnish children with normal hearing (N=318) using the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire and an abridged version of the Finnish McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories. In addition, background information was collected with a questionnaire designed for this study. The results of these questionnaires were analysed in relation to each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis showed that the results gained with the Finnish version of LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire and the abridged version of the Finnish McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories are closely related. However, the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire manages to capture the earlier and subtler changes that occur in infancy, therefore making a good continuum with McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories. Also, most background factors, such as parents' educational level, did not affect the results significantly, rendering the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire a valuable method for assessment of early auditory development in very young children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Finnish version of the LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire is a reliable assessment tool with no confounding background factors. It enables evaluation of the early auditory development in even the youngest of children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Logopedics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: terhi.m.rauhamaki@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rauhamäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: eila.lonka@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lonka
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: jari.lipsanen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipsanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: minna.s.laakso@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laakso
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Auditory development; Finnish infants; LittlEARS(®) Auditory Questionnaire; McArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories; Normal hearing