AFT-R (The Auditory Fusion Test-Revised)

The Auditory Fusion Test-Revised is a gap detection test designed to identify auditory processing disorders that manifest themselves as an inability to process auditory information in the time domain. These temporal processing disorders are identified through the determination of the Auditory Fusion Threshold. This threshold is measured in milliseconds and is obtained by having a listener attend to a series of pure tones presented in pairs. The time between the pure tones increases and decreases in duration. As this time interval changes, the listener reports whether the stimulus pairs are heard as one tone or two tones. The auditory fusion threshold is the average of the points for which the two tones are perceptually heard as one. This test can be administered to any individual who understands the concept of one vs. two. Normative data are available for subjects between the ages of 5 and 70 years.

Results of gap detection testing can help identify individuals whose language and reading disorder may be related to a fundamental disorder in temporal processing. These are disorders of auditory timing in which the individual is unable to perceive rapid changes in formant frequencies of ongoing speech. Once these problems are identifies remediation programs to enable the individual to compensate for their problem can be recommended. In addition, this particular disorder may benefit from certain programs designed to remediate these problems at the perceptual level. . .