The Ling Sound Test: What is its Relevance in the New Zealand Classroom?

Abstract

Daniel Ling created the Ling Sound Test (auditory assessment tool) and it was first published in the book titled Speech and the Hearing-Impaired Child: Theory and Practice (Ling,1976). The philosophy behind Ling's sound test is to use a range of speech sounds that largely represents the speech spectrum from 250-8000 Hz using isolated phonemes to target low, middle and high-frequency sounds (Smiley, 2004). Ling’s phoneme sounds are [m], [ah], [oo], [ee], [sh] and [s]. The test is not a test of comprehension: it is used for checking the aural skills of detection, discrimination and identification (Smiley, 2004). A wide range of people can use this tool including audiologists, speech therapists, teachers of the deaf, classroom teachers and parents. It is a quick and accurate assessment tool that can be exercised with users of cochlear implants, hearing aids or with no amplification at all. It has a variety of applications, and can be used with a wide range of ages or needs. The Ling Sound Test is used worldwide (English speaking) and is used daily by teachers of the deaf based at van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Christchurch) and Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Auckland).