Persian randomized dichotic digits test: Development and dichotic listening performance in young adults

• Main Authors: Mohammad Ebrahim Mahdavi, Jafar Aghazadeh, Seyyed Ali Akbar Tahaei, Fatemeh Heiran, Alireza Akbarzadeh Baghban
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2017-07-01
• Series: Auditory and Vestibular Research
• Subjects: Dichotic listening; adults; ear advantage; gender; Persian language
• Online Access: https://avr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/avr/article/view/210

Background and Aims: The dichotic listening subtest is considered as an important component of the test battery for auditory processing assessment in both children and adults. A randomized dichotic digits test (RDDT) was created to compensate for sensitivity weakness of double digits when detecting abnormal ear asymmetry during dichotic listening. The aim of this study was the development and initial evaluation of the Persian randomized dichotic digits test. Method: Persian digits 1-10 (except for the bisyllabic digit, 4) uttered by a native Persian language speaker were recorded in a studio. After alignment of intensity and temporal characteristics of digit waveforms, lists 1 and 2 of the RDDT were reproduced. List 1 of the test was administered at 55 dBHL on 50 right-handed normal hearing individuals (with an equal sex ratio) in the age group of 18-25 years and hearing thresholds of 15 dBHL or better in audiometric frequencies. Results: Mean (standard deviation) percent-correct score for right and left ears and right ear advantage of the subjects was 94.3 (5.3), 84.8 (7.7), and 9.5 (7.0) percent, respectively. Sixty percent of the subjects showed normal results and unilateral and bilateral deficits were seen in 24 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Conclusion: It seems the Persian version of RDDT is the same as the original test as it is able to test ear asymmetry, unilateral and bilateral deficits in dichotic listening.