Computer-Based Training of Auditory Temporal Processing Improves Phonologic Awareness of Children with Reading Disability

Recent research has suggested that deficits in several metalinguistic/phonological abilities, such as short-term verbal memory and phoneme segmentation, may be etiologic factors in specific reading disability, and it has been speculated that these weaknesses may result from a more fundamental deficit in the processing of temporal, auditory stimuli. This study examined the auditory temporal processing skills of reading-disabled, math-disabled, and normally achieving college students. The math-disabled group was included to control for the possibility that poor temporal processing is a "marker" variable for learning disability rather than being related specifically to reading disability. Subjects were assessed on a battery of psychophysical tasks that included five tests of temporal processing. The reading-disabled group performed significantly more poorly on the temporal tasks but performed as well as the other groups on the simple pitch and loudness discrimination tasks. In spite of the significant difference on the temporal tasks, the majority of reading-disabled subjects performed within the same range as the subjects in the other two groups, and there were also some normally reading subjects who performed poorly on the temporal processing tasks. These findings suggest that poor temporal processing is neither a necessary nor a sufficient cause of reading disability, but that there is a modest association between the two domains.

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Auditory temporal processing, phonological awareness, and oral language ability in prereaders: Can we identify children at risk for reading disability more accurately?

The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist ◽

10.1017/s0816512200028029 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 32-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Steve M. Heath ◽

John H. Hogben

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Phonological Awareness ◽

Reading Disability ◽

Temporal Processing ◽

Oral Language ◽

Language Ability ◽

Children At Risk ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Initial Testing ◽

Current Accuracy

AbstractA longitudinal study was designed to investigate the possibility of improving current accuracy in prediction of reading disability, using phonological awareness (PA), oral language, and auditory temporal processing (ATP) as predictors. Preschoolers (n = 106) were tested on PA, and two groups were selected from the upper and lower quartiles of the PA distribution for initial testing as prereaders on ATP and oral language, and later testing on reading and oral language at the end of years 1, 2 , and 3. Oral language markedly improved levels of prediction previously achieved using PA alone. However, although ATP is related to PA and oral language in prereaders, it contributed little to prediction of reading achievement beyond that afforded by measures of PA and oral language. Options for improving the levels of prediction achieved here by increasing the sensitivity of our measure of AJP are discussed.

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Auditory Training to Improve Speech Perception and Self-Efficacy in Aging Adults

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-19-00355 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 1270-1281

Author(s):

Leah Fostick ◽

Riki Taitelbaum-Swead ◽

Shulamith Kreitler ◽

Shelly Zokraut ◽

Miriam Billig

Keyword(s):

Speech Perception ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Temporal Order Judgment ◽

Auditory Training ◽

Intensity Discrimination ◽

Training Design ◽

Auditory Temporal Processing ◽

Temporal Properties ◽

Computer Based ◽

Aging Adults

Purpose Difficulty in understanding spoken speech is a common complaint among aging adults, even when hearing impairment is absent. Correlational studies point to a relationship between age, auditory temporal processing (ATP), and speech perception but cannot demonstrate causality unlike training studies. In the current study, we test (a) the causal relationship between a spatial–temporal ATP task (temporal order judgment [TOJ]) and speech perception among aging adults using a training design and (b) whether improvement in aging adult speech perception is accompanied by improved self-efficacy. Method Eighty-two participants aged 60–83 years were randomly assigned to a group receiving (a) ATP training (TOJ) over 14 days, (b) non-ATP training (intensity discrimination) over 14 days, or (c) no training. Results The data showed that TOJ training elicited improvement in all speech perception tests, which was accompanied by increased self-efficacy. Neither improvement in speech perception nor self-efficacy was evident following non-ATP training or no training. Conclusions There was no generalization of the improvement resulting from TOJ training to intensity discrimination or generalization of improvement resulting from intensity discrimination training to speech perception. These findings imply that the effect of TOJ training on speech perception is specific and such improvement is not simply the product of generally improved auditory perception. It provides support for the idea that temporal properties of speech are indeed crucial for speech perception. Clinically, the findings suggest that aging adults can be trained to improve their speech perception, specifically through computer-based auditory training, and this may improve perceived self-efficacy.

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