A proposed behavioral tool to assess sustained auditory attention

Sustained attention and vigilance are processeses that characterize attention, and are essential for the development of certain abilities AIM: a prospective study to propose a simple, easy and quick behavioral tool to support the assessment of sustained auditory attention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: volunteer children aged between 6 and 11 years (139 female and 141 male) were selected. The test was named Sustained Auditory Attention Ability Test, and is based on the Continuous Performance Test. It consist of a binaural and diotic presentation of a list of 100 monosyllabic words in which a target monosyllable is included 20 times. This list was presented six times with no breaks. The test was carried out in a soundproofed room, using a CD player attached to a two-channel audiometer at 50 dBSL during 9 minutes. The test resulted in a total score and a vigilance decrement. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between genders, but a significant difference was found between ages. CONCLUSION: The proposed test had no discomfort for the participants, and was shown to be extremely promising to assess the sustained auditory attention ability in children.