Gap detection threshold in Down syndrome: a brief report
Abstract
Background and Aim: Auditory discrimination is one of obstacles for low performance of phonological processing in Down syndrome. Here, this study aimed to evaluate auditory acuity in Down syndrome to explore a possible underlying deficit for phonological processing in this population.
Methods: Phonetic gap detection test was used to evaluate auditory temporal threshold of sixteen male students with Down syndrome. They were asked to discriminate sounds of six syllables at 20, 50, 100, 200 and 300 ms temporal gap.
Results: The mean of phonetic gap detection threshold for participants was 246.8 ms in the range of 183.3-300 ms. There was no significant correlation between auditory temporal thresholds and age or intelligence quotient.
Conclusion: Participants discriminated sounds of syllables at higher threshold compared to typically-developing children examined in previous studies. Increased gap detection threshold might be an underlying deficit for low performance of phonological processing in Down syndrome.
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| Issue | Articles in Press | |
| Section | Short Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Auditory temporal processing phonological processing intellectual disability working memory auditory discrimination auditory acuity | ||
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