AudBility: correlation between performance in auditory skills screening and diagnostic behavioral tests in school-aged children

• Grant number: 25/13833-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Maria Isabel Ramos Do Amaral
• Grantee: Marcela Mattos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: In school-aged children, changes in the auditory system, whether peripheral or central, can affect language development and learning. School hearing screening allows for early detection and targeted interventions. In Brazil, the AudBility program has recently been validated for screening auditory skills in schoolchildren. Objective: To analyze the performance of children aged 6 to 8 years using a screening protocol from the AudBility program, as well as the correlation between screening performance and the results of a behavioral assessment of central auditory processing. Method: This is a descriptive, analytical, prospective, and cross-sectional study approved by the Ethics Committee (CAEE 67851723.5.0000.5404), carried out through a partnership between a state public school and the Audiology Laboratory of the institution. Children aged 6 to 8 years, male and female, native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, with normal peripheral hearing will be included. Children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental and/or language disorders or syndromes, and those who do not pass the prior cognitive screening, will be excluded. The procedures will be divided into two stages. Stage 1 will take place at the school and will include cognitive screening (Raven's test), the School Performance Test (TDE-II), basic audiological evaluation, and the AudBility screening program. Stage 2 will take place at the institution and will include an anamnesis with the parents and a behavioral assessment of auditory processing. Data will be tabulated and analyzed statistically. Results: It is expected that a correlation will be found between the tasks and the "pass or fail" result in the auditory processing screening in relation to diagnostic performance, thus contributing to the implementation of an effective school-based auditory skills screening program based on the program studied.