Dichotic listening: expanded norms and clinical application

The object of this study was to provide an expanded normative base for the Dichotic Word Listening Test (DWLT), with particular emphasis on the performance of older individuals. The normative study consisted of 336 community living volunteers. These new norms were used to compare several groups of neurologically impaired patient groups. DWLT was found to be sensitive to the presence of brain injury, and also to the degree of acute injury as measured by loss of consciousness. The results of the short form version of the DWLT test showed 100% specificity and 60% sensitivity for mildly brain-injured patients to 80% sensitivity for more severely brain-injured patients. The respective sensitivities for Left CVA and Right CVA were 55% and 88%. The present findings suggest that the DWLT is a valid and easy to use clinical tool.