[How do results in BAKO 1-4 and H-LAD-test correlate with auditory processing?].

OBJECTIVE An increasing number of children seem to have a deficiency in Central Processing as a reason for reading and writing difficulties (RWD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD). There is often also a delay in phonological consciousness. A test would therefore be useful to distinguish children with RWD and ADD. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study involved 75 consecutive schoolchildren from the 1 (st) to 5 (th) classes (ages 6-11), and was carried out at the Department of Phoniatric-Paediatric Audiology at the University ENT Clinic Ulm. Various tests were undertaken: hearing tests for peripheral hearing, central auditory tests, tests of phonological competence and a questionnaire completed with the parents. Statistical calculations were used to verify correlations with clinical findings and the questionnaire. RESULTS BAKO 1-4 and H-LAD test phonological awareness and the T-values showed a good correlation, as expected. These are therefore reliable tests. No gender specific differences could be found. The BAKO 1-4 test was better statistically and this confirms other groups' findings. The questionnaire is not ready to be used for diagnosis. It is not possible to distinguish different diagnoses (central auditory processing disorder, writing difficulties, delayed speech acquisition and delay in phonological consciousness) by means of auditory tests. CONCLUSIONS This means that the capacity to distinguish phonemes is not directly correlated to central auditory functions. Equally, one can also say that not every child with such problems has deficits in central auditory processing which require therapy. They all require an interdisciplinary management tailored to their own needs and underlying causes.