Auditory speech sounds evaluation (A(section)E): a new test to assess detection, discrimination and identification in hearing impairment.

This paper describes a set of suprathreshold tests, available as a software package (A(section)E((R))), for the auditory evaluation of the hearing impaired. It uses isolated speech sounds as test material for a discrimination, identification and detection test, and is specifically suited to test preverbal children. All tests allow strict analytical interpretation. The test material and procedures are described. Their clinical use is illustrated. The authors claim that suprathreshold tests are feasible in the preverbal child, allowing analytical evaluation of the auditory capacities. These tests are complementary to the routinely used detection tests and add significantly to the hearing evaluation in preverbal children. The authors recommend the phoneme discrimination test for selection of cochlear implant candidates and for the evaluation and fitting of cochlear implants.