Preliminary evaluation and reliability of the Italian adaptation of the dichotic digit test in adults and children

Background: Dichotic listening tests, such as the Dichotic Digit Test (DDT) developed by F. Musiek, are vital for assessing auditory processing disorders. There is a lack of validated auditory tests in Italian, necessitating the adaptation of existing tools. Objective: This study aims to provide a preliminary assessment of the reliability and normative data for the newly adapted Italian version of the DDT. It hypothesises that the Italian DDT will show comparable reliability and normative data to the original English version, with a similar Right-Ear Advantage (REA). Methods: The adaptation process involved a pilot study with 20 normal hearing adults, comparing the English and Italian versions of the DDT. Subsequently, the study included 138 children aged 6-10 years, using the Italian version to assess test-retest reliability and gather normative data. Results: The findings revealed a consistent REA across participants that was more pronounced in younger children. The Italian version of DDT demonstrated adequate reliability across age groups and gender, with test-retest stability observed in both adults and children. Conclusions: This preliminary study provides essential data on the reliability and normative scores of the Italian DDT. The findings support its use in clinical and research settings, although further studies are required for comprehensive validation.