title: Effects of tonal language background on tests of temporal sequencing in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the present study were to determine the effects of language background on the performance of the pitch pattern sequence test (PPST) and duration pattern sequence test (DPST). As temporal order sequencing may be affected by age and working memory, these factors were also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performance of tonal and non-tonal language speakers on PPST and DPST were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight native Mandarin (tonal language) speakers and twenty-nine native Malay (non-tonal language) speakers between seven to nine years old participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that relative to native Malay speakers, native Mandarin speakers demonstrated better scores on the PPST in both humming and verbal labeling responses. However, a similar language effect was not apparent in the DPST. An age effect was only significant in the PPST (verbal labeling). Finally, no significant effect of working memory was found on the PPST and the DPST.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the PPST is affected by tonal language background, and highlight the importance of developing different normative values for tonal and non-tonal language speakers.
authors.affiliation: a Audiology Program, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti Zamratol-Mai S
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Mukari
authors.affiliation: a Audiology Program, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: a Audiology Program, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Syafira
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.affiliation: a Audiology Program, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rafidah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazlan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007804:Language Development; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Middle ear; anatomy and physiology; behavioral measures; pediatric; psychoacoustics/hearing science