Speech Perception in Noise Measures for Children: A Critical Review and Case Studies

Children who have hearing loss or other auditory disorders are at risk for educational difficulties, especially when the detrimental effects of an impaired auditory system are combined with poor classroom acoustics. Classroom observations, teacher questionnaires, and speech perception measures in noise may be used to identify children who are at-risk and to evaluate the effects of classroom noise on behavior and performance. Valid and reliable quantification of listening difficulty will provide evidence of a child’s need for instructional and communication accommodations, special education support, and hearing assistance technology. Currently, however, no cumulative peer-reviewed publications that analyze speech perception tests in noise for children exist. For this reason, the primary goal of this paper is to provide a critical review of speech perception measures in noise which are designed for young and school-aged children. This review will provide information regarding the sensitivity, validity, and reliability of available measures, as well as discuss advantages and disadvantages of each test for examining pediatric speech perception in noise. In addition, three case studies will demonstrate the clinical utility of two tests for measuring speech perception in noise in a classroom setting.