Audiometric profiles in children with speech sound disorder: Subclinical hearing loss as a potential factor.

Audiometric profiles in children with speech sound disorder: Subclinical hearing loss as a potential factor. Clin Linguist Phon. 2020 Nov 23;:1-27 Authors: Nakeva von Mentzer C Abstract In the present study, hearing sensitivity in children with speech sound disorder (SSD) is scrutinized. Middle ear function (wideband tympanometry and acoustic stapedial reflexes, ASR) and inner ear function (audiometric thresholds in the conventional1-8 kHz and extended10-16 kHz high frequency (EHF) range, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs2-10 kHz) were investigated. Hearing results were analyzed in relation to speech discrimination of phonemic contrasts (quiet and in noise conditions) and reproduction. Thirty-two children with SSD and 41 children with typical development (TD) ages 4-5 years participated. Children with SSD exhibited significantly less sensitive hearing compared to children with TD. This was demonstrated as more absent contralateral ASR (right ear SSD 43.7%; TD 22.0%), a higher prevalence of minimal hearing loss (MHL, > 15 dB HL at one or more frequencies or ears1-8 kHz and PTA ≤ 20 dB HL, SSD 53.1%; TD 24.3%) and EHF hearing impairment (EHF HI, > 20 dB HL at one or more frequencies or ears10-16 kHz, SSD 31.3%; TD 24.3%). At 2 kHz bilaterally, children with SSD showed significantly higher hearing thresholds than children with TD (mean difference, left ear 3.4 dB: right ear 4.3 dB), together with a signi...
Source: Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Clin Linguist Phon Source Type: research