Comparison of Questionnaire-Based and Performance-Based Screening Tools as Predictors of Auditory Processing Disorder

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare questionnaire-based and performance-based screening tools as predictors of an auditory processing disorder (APD) diagnosis. The questionnaire-based screening tools used were the Children's Auditory Performance Scale, Fisher's Auditory Problems Checklist, and Buffalo Model Questionnaire–Revised. The performance-based screening tools were from the SCAN-3 screening tests, that is, Auditory Figure Ground, Competing Words Free Recall (CW-FR), and Gap Detection Test. Predictability was ascertained by comparing the scores from screening tools with those from diagnostic APD tests and with the final diagnosis of APD. Research Design This study is a retrospective single-observation study. Method The screening and diagnostic test results were retrospectively analyzed from the medical records of 85 individuals (female = 39) aged 7–23 years who were seen for APD assessment at Bloomsburg University's Clinic for Hearing and Balance. Each participant was assessed with at least two questionnaire-based and at least two performance-based screening tools. Results Spearman correlation coefficient analysis showed a moderate relationship within questionnaire-based screening tools, whereas there was no relationship between questionnaire- and performance-based tools. Notably, the performance-based CW-FR screening tool showed a significant relationship with five diagnostic tests. The questionnaire-based screening tools did not predict APD diagnosis. The performance-based tool CW-FR (φ = 0.33) and the SCAN-3 screening battery (φ = 0.44) predicted the diagnosis of APD. Conclusion A performance-based screening tool or battery can be used to determine whether additional diagnostic APD evaluation is warranted. Referral for diagnostic assessment should not be based solely on questionnaire-based screening tools.