Asimetry in tone-hearing threshold and speech detection threshold in the left and right ear among children with speech and language disorders

Abstract

This paper analyses the middle values of tone-hearing threshold and speech detection threshold in the left and right ear among children with speech and language disorders (n = 60) and among children with normal speech and language development (n = 30). The sample included children of both genders between the ages of 5 and 7. Tone-hearing threshold testing was performed using Maico tonal audiometer, and speech detection threshold testing was done using KSAFA-m device. The results showed that the children with speech and language disorders have a somewhat better hearing threshold in the left ear compared with the right, but this result was not statistically significant. Contrary to this result, a statistically significant superiority of the right ear related to the hearing threshold at the frequencies of 0,125 kHz and 4 kHz was noted among the children with normal speech and language development. A statistically significant superiority of the left ear related to the speech detection threshold at 0,125 kHz was noted among the children with speech and language disorders. A slight superiority of the left ear was noted among the children with normal speech and language development, but without statistical significance. Comparison of asymmetry results between left and right ear (hearing threshold in the left and right ears) showed that the children with normal speech and language development have statistically more significant asymmetry than the children with speech and language disorders at 0,125kHz, 4kHz, 6kHz when considering the overall results. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the children with speech and language disorders in comparison to the children with normal speech and language development: have worse tone-hearing threshold and speech detection threshold in both left and right ear, show better results in the left ear and have less pronounced asymmetry of the left and right ear in hearing threshold.