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Dichotic integration: is it similar in the elderly and children?
The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 33, pages 56–60 (2017)
Abstract
Background
Aging process is associated with central auditory changes, which may explain some understanding difficulties in elderly. It may be evaluated with the dichotic digits (DD) test, a widely used experimental paradigm for studying interhemispheric interactions.
Purpose
This study was performed to evaluate dichotic integration ability in the elderly and children populations by comparing it with adults who acted as reference.
Research design
The study design was a cross-sectional one. It was conducted in Ain Shams University, Faculty of Medicine, Demerdash Hospital, Audiology Unit, for a period of 4 years. The study comprised 75 participants divided into three groups: the adult group, the elderly group, and the pediatric group.
Data collection and analysis
Basic Audiological Evaluation and the DD test in the free recall condition were carried out in all participants.
Results
Results of this study suggest that central auditory processing concerning dichotic integration is different in children and elderly individuals when compared with adults. Moreover, there was no significant difference between elderly patients and children. The age had a direct correlation with DD test scores in children, but an inverse correlation in the elderly.
Conclusion
Dichotic integration as measured using the DD test is similar in the elderly and children, but in opposite directions with regard to its change with age progress.
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Rahman, T.T.A. Dichotic integration: is it similar in the elderly and children?. Egypt J Otolaryngol 33, 56–60 (2017). https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.199400
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.199400