[Audiologic diagnosis in children. Applicability of different speech material]. / Audiologische Diagnostik bei Kindern. Verwendbarkeit von unterschiedlichem Sprachmaterial.

The aim of our study was to establish bench-mark values for speech intelligibility in noise for children. We also considered which of the two dichotic discrimination tests, Feldmann's or Uttenweiler's, would be most suitable for use within this age group. We examined 102 children aged between 7 and 10 years (second year, primary school), with an average age of 8 years. After confirming normal hearing acuity (examination of the ear, tympanometry and audiogram), speech perception was tested. This was performed with and without noise using the Göttingen Audiometric Speech Test for Children II and the monosyllables of the Freiburger Speech Intelligibility Test. The percentage of word intelligibility was recorded. Furthermore, dichotic hearing was tested using a combination of Feldmann and Uttenweiler dichotic discrimination tests. We rated the percentage of correct word pair repetitions with the correct article. The results showed that the best method for testing speech perception in noise for this age group was the Göttingen Test II for Children. Speech perception below 70% for word intelligibility should be considered as pathologic. For testing dichotic hearing, Uttenweiler's dichotic discrimination test for children was most suitable. In this test values below 80% should be considered as pathologic.

[On the diagnostics of structural deficits in dyslexia in clinical work: relationship between different achievement indicators]. / Zur Diagnostik struktureller Defizite bei Lese-Rechtschreib-Störungen in der klinischen Arbeit: Beziehungen zwischen verschiedenen Leistungsindikatoren.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to research the relationship between different indicators used in the diagnosis of reading and writing disabilities in clinical work. METHODS: In addition to being tested for intelligence and writing ability, a total of 141 children in second and fourth grade were submitted to tests assessing their ability for speech intelligibility in noise, dichotic listening, phoneme discrimination, as well as auditory short-term memory for digits and non-words. In a partial sample of 40 children with average intelligence manifesting at least a standard deviation between their ability to write and their IQ a regression analysis was introduced to assess the predictive power of applied indicators for writing ability. RESULTS: Next to IQ testing, phoneme analysis as used in the Heidelberg Test of Phoneme Discrimination accorded for the variance in writing ability. However, the relationship between these indicators proved to be most important for the beginning of learning the written language. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic procedures used in clinical work are critically evaluated whereby the tests to assess speech intelligibility in noise and dichotic listening, as well as short-term memory appear to be clinically relevant too, however a standardized procedure and age-relevant norms are still needed.

[Nasalance: a new concept for objective analysis of nasality]. / Nasalanz: Ein neuer Begriff der objektiven Nasalitätsanalyse.

None of the methods described in the literature on the objective analysis of nasality has so far been introduced in routine diagnosis. The present study describes initial experiences with the nasometer in german language and presents nasalanz as a new term for objective analysis of nasality in german-speaking countries. Typical cases are demonstrated via a rhinophonia test designed for the use of the nasometer. Results obtained in 75 subjects show that nasalanz provides a valid parameter of objective measurement of closed and open rhinophonia and emphasize the value of the nasometer in follow-up studies of surgery as well as in biofeedback therapy of patients suffering from rhinophonia. Fundamental aspects of nasality with reference to the obtained results are discussed.