Normalization and Reliability Evaluation of Persian Version of Two-Pair Dichotic Digits in ۸ to ۱۲-Year-Old Children

Objectives: All subjects suspected of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) were previously tested by free recall dichotic digits test (DDT). The study objective was normalization and reliability evaluation of two-pair DDT in ۷۵۰ native Persian subjects aged ۸ to ۱۲ years. Materials: A total of ۷۵۰ subjects were divided into five age groups varying between ۸ years and ۱۲ years and ۱۱ months old. Each age group had ۱۵۰ subjects. DDT was tested in free recall condition. For evaluating DDT test-retest reliability, ۳۰۰ participants (۶۰ subjects in each age group) were tested again after one month. Results: Right and left ear mean score increased from ۷۱.۶۸(±۲.۱۹) and ۵۸.۵۱(±۱.۷۱) in the ۸-year-old group to ۹۰.۲۶(±۱.۹۶) and ۸۸.۳۸(±۱.۳۶) in ۱۲-year-old group, respectively. The mean Right Ear Advantage (REA) decreased from ۱۳.۱۶(±۲.۵۸) in the ۸-year-old group to ۱.۸۸(±۲.۴۹) in the ۱۲-year-old group. A high stability was observed between test-retest results (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). Discussion: Persian version of two-pair dichotic digits exhibited proper reliability for evaluating ۸ to ۱۲-year-old subjects, and the study results can be used for evaluating the dichotic hearing function in subjects of the same age group.

Keywords:

Two-pair dichotic digits test , Dichotic hearing processing , Free recall paradigm