Articulation Functions and Test-Retest Performance of Normal-Hearing Children on Three Speech Discrimination Tests: WIPI, PBK-50, and NU Auditory Test No. 6

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Abstract
This study investigates the performance of normal-hearing children on three types of speech discrimination tasks: (1) a multiple-choice, closed-message set test requiring no verbal response, the WIPI; (2) an open-message set test constructed for use with children, the PBK-50; and (3) a standardized, open set test for adults, Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6). Versions of these tests tape-recorded by a single male talker were administered to 60 normal-hearing children, divided equally between the ages three-and-one-half, five-and-one-half, seven-and-one-half, nine-and-one-half, and 11-and-one-half years. The number of tests and sensation levels administered varied by age. The WIPI test yielded the highest discrimination scores, the PBK-50 was intermediate, and the NU-6 was most difficult. A small number of items on the WIPI test accounted for a large percentage of the errors. For three-and-one-half year olds, the WIPI appears to be the instrument of choice. For children aged five-and-one-half years, both the WIPI and the PBK-50 appear to be appropriate clinical tools. Children aged seven-and-one-half scored similar to children aged nine-and-one-half on the WIPI and to children aged nine-and-one-half and 11 and-one-half on the PBK-50 and NU-6. Test-retest differences were small on all three tests.

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