AUDITORY PERCEPTION DEVELOPMENT

(Listening Skills)

2 - 3 YEARS

Auditory Perception is the way in which the brain interprets the messages which it receives through the ears. Auditory Perception is the umbrella term used, and covers several auditory functions which work together to make up Auditory Perception. Briefly, these subsections are:

Auditory Discrimination:
This is the ability to hear similarities and differences in sounds, e.g.
soft, loud, low, high, near, far, etc.

Auditory Foreground and Background Perception:
      This refers to the ability to isolate a particular sound in the presence
      of other sounds. This skill is required in situations where it is
      necessary to listen and concentrate.

Auditory Closure:
This is the ability to hear through to the end of a sequence of
sounds. This skill is obviously important for reading and spelling.

Auditory Memory and Recall:
The ability to remember what has been heard, and recall this
information at a later stage. This skill is required for learning.

Auditory Sequencing:
      The ability to recall what was heard, in the same sequence. This
      skill is required for academic learning (especially for spelling and
      mathematics).

The following
Auditory Perception Developmental Checklist
should serve the following two purposes:

Use the checklist as a guide of auditory development that you should be stimulating, through play or even through daily activities.
Should you find that your child is not developing according to several items on the checklist, it is advised that you consult with a Speech and Language Therapist, General Practitioner (GP), Pediatrician, etc. for further advice.This list is a guide and should not be used for diagnostic purposes.

TWO YEARS (approximately)

Listens to simple stories (attention span still very short).

Responds to yes/no questions by shaking or nodding head.

Shows interest in the sounds of radio or TV commercials.

Responds to command, "Show me theЕЕ.".

Understand and answers simple "wh" questions,

      e.g. "Where is your Е.?."

Waits in response to "just a minute".

Identifies at least five body parts.

Understands the phrase: "Have biscuit after lunch".

Carries out 4 separate directions with a ball e.g. "Give it to me", "Put
      the ball on the block".

Repeats two numbers, letters or words.

Comprehension (understanding) of vocabulary increases to an
      average of 300 words.

THREE YEARS (approximately)

Enjoys listening to stories, especially his favourite one over and over
again (patience parents!)

Is able to carry out different commands which are unrelated, e.g.
"Take the cup to the kitchen and bring mommy the cloth".

Understands more prepositions and is able to carry out various
commands with different prepositions, e.g. climb on the chair, now
sit under the table, etc.

Is able to identify the use of objects in pictures, e.g. "Which one do
you eat?"

Answers simple questions (who, what, where?) and replies
appropriately with a word, a sentence or gesture.

Recognises many songs and melodies.

Understands the term "more". e.g. "more apples".

Understands regular past tense forms of verbs, e.g. "She jumped over
the stone".

Is able to understand approximately 900 - 1 200 words.

Remembers three items of a medium length story.

Recalls three numbers, letters or words in a sequence, e.g. "6,4,9"
or "apple, banana, pear".

Is able to repeat a 5 - 7 syllable sentence.

Shows an interest in explanations to why and how questions asked.

Click here to play a listening game with your child.