The SCAN-A in testing for auditory processing disorder in a sample of British adults

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: The SCAN-A () is a test for auditory processing disorders in adolescents aged 11+ and adults developed in the USA. It was previously found that the children's version (the SCAN-C) over diagnoses auditory processing disorder in UK children. This study was conducted to assess the use of the SCAN-A with UK adults. Design: Comparison of UK adult's SCAN-A performance to US-based normative data. Study Sample: 31 UK adults aged 19 to 64 years (M 24, sd 10). Results: The UK sample scored significantly worse on three subtests: the Filtered Words (FW), Competing Words (CW) and Competing Sentences (CS) sections as well as on the Total Score. Conclusions: Applying US norms to UK adult's performance results in a high rate of over-identification of listening difficulties. Alternative UK norms are provided and implications for use of the SCAN-A with UK adolescents and adults are discussed.

Sumario

Objetivo: El SCAN-A () es una prueba para trastornos de procesamiento auditivo en adolescentes de más de 11 años y en adultos, desarrollada en los EEUU. Se encontró previamente que la versión para niños (SCAN-C) sobre-diagnostica trastornos de procesamiento auditivo en niños del Reino Unido. Este estudio fue conducido para evaluar el uso del SCAN-A en adultos del Reino Unido. Diseño: Comparación del desempeño con el SCAN-A de adultos del Reino Unido con los datos normativos de los EEUU. Muestra Del Estudio: Treinta y uno adultos del Reino Unido con edades entre los 19 y los 64 años (M 24, sd 10). Resultados: La muestra del Reino Unido obtuvo un resultado significativamente peor en tres sub-pruebas: las secciones de Palabras Filtradas (FW), de Palabras en Competencia (CW) y de Frases en Competencia (CS), así como en el puntaje total. Conclusiones: La aplicación de normas de los EEUU al desempeño de adultos del Reino Unido resulta en una alta tasa de sobre-identificación de trastornos de audición. Se proporcionan normas alternativas para el Reino Unido y se discuten las implicaciones para el uso del SCAN-A en adolescentes y adultos del Reino Unido.

Key Words::

• Auditory processing disorder (APD)
• Adults and adolescents
• Test reliability

Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by a grant from Deafness Research UK. Thank you to Ms Olga Alexatou for assistance in data collection.

Declaration of interest: There are no conflicts of interest.

Note

1. A revised version of the SCAN-A, the SCAN-3A was published in 2009. The major difference of the SCAN-3A is the addition of a compressed sentences test. Additionally, the auditory-figure ground subtest (see text) is now presented at three different signal to noise ratios, rather than one. To address earlier criticisms that the SCAN lacks a temporal processing measure (see text under ‘Limitations of the SCAN tests’), a gap detection screening test has been added. Revised performance norms are also provided.