Temporal Processing and Literacy Skills in Children With Hearing Aids

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between temporal processing and literacy performance in children with hearing aids. METHOD: The study included a total of 45 children, comprising 21 with typical hearing and 24 who used hearing aids, all of whom were attending the second, third, or fourth grades of primary school. Temporal processing skills were evaluated using the Frequency Pattern Test and the Duration Pattern Test (DPT), whereas reading and writing abilities were assessed through the Literacy Assessment Battery. RESULTS: Children using hearing aids demonstrated statistically significantly lower performance in the DPT and in the test assessing writing skills compared to their typically hearing peers. A positive, significant correlation was found between temporal processing skills and literacy skills. Moreover, temporal processing and literacy performance were observed to be negatively correlated with the age at which the child's first amplification was provided and positively correlated with the duration of auditory rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that in children using hearing aids, performance on temporal pattern tests was significantly correlated with reading and writing skills. Furthermore, these findings suggest that early amplification and consistent auditory rehabilitation may be correlated with better temporal processing and literacy skills.