Auditory Processing Tests for Children

Normative and Clinical Results on the SSW Test

¹ Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
² Worcester Public Schools, Worcester, MA
³ University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA

Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test results were studied in 93 normally achieving children and 97 children referred to a learning disabilities clinic. All subjects were 8–11 years of age. The SSW test was found to differentiate between the normally achieving children and those experiencing classroom learning difficulties. Further, it was found that the performance of the normally achieving group was generally better than current test norms would imply. This finding suggests the use of stricter criteria in determining when a child is at risk for central auditory processing difficulties. Results for children with classroom learning difficulties show a progression toward better performance with age, except for the Left-Competing condition. This makes it unclear whether one can or cannot expect some resolution of auditory processing difficulties by age 11.