Evaluation of auditory processing and phonemic discrimination in children with normal and disordered phonological development

ABSTRACT: Auditory processing and phonemic discrimination are essential for communication. Type of study: Retrospective. AIM: To evaluate auditory processing and phonemic discrimination in children with normal and disordered phonological development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An evaluation of 46 children was carried out: 22 had phonological disorders and 24 had normally developing speech. Diotic, monotic and dichotic tests were applied to assess auditory processing and a test to evaluate phonemic discrimination abilities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, contemporary. RESULTS: The values of normally-developing children were within the normal range in all auditory processing tests; these children attained maximum phonemic discrimination test scores. Children with phonological disorders performed worse in the latter, and presented disordered auditory processing. CONCLUSION: Auditory processing and phonemic discrimination in children with phonological disorders are altered.