Auditory Discrimination: Complete Guide for Speech Therapists
Auditory discrimination is the ability to perceive and distinguish the sounds of language. It is fundamental for the development of speech, language, and reading. Difficulties in auditory discrimination can lead to articulation disorders, phonological disorders, or difficulties in learning to read.
👂 Resources for Auditory Discrimination
Perception exercises, listening games, minimal pairs
Access the tools →📋 Table of Contents
What is Auditory Discrimination?
Auditory discrimination is the ability to perceive differences between sounds. It involves several levels: detecting sounds, locating them, discriminating (same/different), identifying, and recognizing them.
Auditory Processing Levels
| Level | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Detection | Perceiving that there is a sound | Hearing a noise |
| Discrimination | Perceiving a difference between two sounds | Pa vs Ba: same or different? |
| Identification | Recognizing a sound among others | What sound do you hear? |
| Comprehension | Giving meaning to the sound | Understanding a word |
Discrimination Difficulties
Warning Signs
- Confusions of similar sounds (p/b, t/d, f/v...)
- Difficulties repeating new words
- Difficulties in phonological awareness
- Difficulties in reading (confusion of similar letters)
- Difficulties understanding in noisy environments
💡 Attention: Check Hearing First
Before discussing a central auditory discrimination disorder, it is necessary to exclude peripheral hearing loss. An audiogram is essential. Frequent serous otitis can also affect perception.
Assessment
- Hearing assessment: audiogram to exclude deafness
- Discrimination of minimal pairs: pa/ba, ton/don...
- Sound localization
- Listening in noise
- Repetition of pseudowords
Speech Therapy Intervention
Progression
- Non-verbal sounds: noises, instruments
- Vowels: clear contrasts
- Consonants: pairs that are increasingly similar
- Syllables then words
- Sentences and context
Activities
- Same/different: are two sounds identical?
- Identification: what sound do you hear?
- Minimal pairs: chicken/ball, bread/bath
- Sound lotto: match sound and image
- Sound dictation
Our Tools to Download
👂 Discrimination Exercises
Auditory perception activities.
Download🔤 Minimal Pairs
Cards to work on phonemic contrasts.
Download🎶 Phonological Awareness
Supplementary exercises.
Download🔊 Sound Lotto
Sound identification game.
DownloadFrequently Asked Questions
Auditory discrimination is the perception of sounds (sensory level). Phonological awareness is the conscious manipulation of sounds (cognitive level). Discrimination is a prerequisite: one must perceive sounds to be able to manipulate them. But both can be worked on in parallel.
Not necessarily. A normal audiogram does not guarantee good central auditory discrimination. Confusions may be related to a central auditory processing disorder, or simply to phonological immaturity. Speech therapy assessment can clarify.
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