Administration and Socioeconomic Level Effects on Auditory Discrimination of Elementary School Children

Abstract

A 40-item speech sound discrimination test was administered to 158 children to assess the effects of socioeconomic level and administrative mode, oral or tape, on auditory discrimination ability. Results indicated a model of administration effect, age effect, and an interaction between age and socioeconomic level. Individual oral administration produced substantially fewer errors than a standardized tape. Low socioeconomic-level children made significantly fewer error scores as age increased, while mid-socioeconomic status children did not. All results were consistent across oral and tape administration.