Pattern Perception in Quiet and at Different Signal to Noise Ratio in Children with Learning Disability.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess pattern perception at different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in children with learning disability (LD) and typically developing children. The first objective of this study was to estimate the identification scores in quiet and at different SNR (0 dB SNR and -5 dB SNR) in children with LD and to compare the result with the typically developing children. The second objective of the study was to estimate identification scores for words differing in syllable length (monosyllable, bisyllable, and trisyllable) for both the groups of children with LD and typically developing children and to compare the result for both the groups.
Materials and Methods: Participants included 60 children including 40 typically developing children and 20 children with LD in the age range 7-11 years. Speech perception was assessed using words varying in syllable length (monosyllables, bisyllables, and trisyllables), and was tested in quiet and at different SNR (0 dB SNR and -5 dB SNR).
Results: Compared to typically developing children, perception was affected in children with LD. For children with LD, the perception was best in quiet condition and was least at -5 dB SNR. Trisyllables showed the best result followed by bisyllables and monosyllables.
Conclusion: Children with LD showed poor pattern perception compared to typically developing children. SNR had a significant effect on the performance of children with LD. The length of the stimuli also had an effect on the perception in children with LD.