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Research provenance

The scientific foundation

APD Suite

IP licensed from Macquarie University. Developed by Dr Sharon Cameron and Dr Harvey Dillon (Macquarie University Department of Linguistics). Differential testing methodology separates auditory processing deficits from cognitive and language causes.

Sound Scouts App

Developed in collaboration with the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL). Normative datasets for Australian, North American English, UK English, Latin-American Spanish and Mandarin, Includes speech in quiet, tone in noise and speech in noise testing.

Soundiverse

Underlying science developed by Dr Sharon Cameron and Dr Harvey Dillon Supports improvement of listening difficulties in noise.

Normative data

Ages 6–60. Australian and North American English accents for LiSN-S. Language-free (LiSN-U) for most non-English populations. Australian and British English accents for AudiCloze.

Publications

Peer-reviewed literature

  1. Dillon et al. (2018) — "Hearing tests are just child's play" — International Journal of Audiology — DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1463464
  2. Dillon & Cameron (2021) — differential testing methodology — Ear & Hearing — DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001069
  3. PLoS ONE — "Speech-in-noise recognition as a predictor of academic achievement" — PLoS ONE — DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324998
  4. International Journal of Audiology (2022) — "Evaluation of a game-based hearing screening program" — DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2052981
  5. International Journal of Audiology (2020) — "Detection of hearing problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children" — DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1718781
  6. Value in Health (2018) — cost-effectiveness model — DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.09.2842
  7. Zhou, Xuehan; Dillon, Harvey; Tomlin, Dani; Burgoyne, Kelly; Gurteen, Helen; Nixon, Grace; Gudkar, Alisha Isaac; Heinrich, Antje. (2026) — "Assessing Language Skills as a Predictor of Children’s Listening Difficulties: Validation and Reference Data on a New Auditory Language Task." — DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001715

The tools

What is available for research

APD Diagnostic Battery

APD Suite

Multiple tests developed by Dr Sharon Cameron & Professor Harvey Dillon at Macquarie University. Normative data for ages 5–60+ years. IP licensed for clinical use. Identification of auditory vs. cognitive vs. language causes.

  • Multiple clinician-administered tests
  • No sound booth required
  • Browser-based
  • Various Australian, UK and North American accents available

Auditory Training · Beta

Soundiverse

Auditory training for spatial processing disorder, managed via SSIMPL.

  • Fun game-based training solution
  • Track weekly progress
  • Email the Sound Scouts team for more information.

Research access

How to work with Sound Scouts

Research partnerships, normative data access, custom study designs, and licensing enquiries are handled through the Sound Scouts team.