Development of a scale for the evaluation of listening behaviour of children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Practical experience indicates a lack of clinical evaluation procedures for the evaluation of the listening behavior of children with Down syndrome. This is especially important because these children are at risk for developmental communication delays concomitant to the high prevalence of recurrent otitis media and resultant auditory processing disorders. The aim of this study was to develop and then apply an evaluation procedure for listening behavior to 10 children with Down syndrome. This scale was then evaluated in terms of its usefulness, by applying it to 56 children (5–34 months) attending an early intervention program. Subsequently it was clinically used with 32 (high risk) children with Down syndrome. It was found to be a useful and practical instrument for the assessment of listening behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)