LiSN-S FAQs

Who should administer LiSN-S?
Audiologists who test for APD in children.

Is LiSN-S a diagnostic test or a screening tool?
It is a diagnostic test. A screening tool only provides a result in the form of a fail or a pass. LiSN-S gives you 5 quantified outcome measurement numbers and information on whether these scores are within or outside normal limits, considering the age of the person tested. The normal limit cut-off is 2 standard deviations below the average score for a patient’s age.

Should LiSN-S be considered part of the professional’s test battery or is it a standalone diagnostic test?
LiSN-S has not been developed as part of a test battery and is administered as a stand-alone diagnostic tool. It is down to the sole discretion of the professional whether he or she wants to perform any other diagnostic testing; this decision may depend on the patient’s problems and case history, and the time available. It is important however that the pure tone audiogram shows normal hearing thresholds, as LiSN-S has only been validated for subjects with normal hearing.

Can one LiSN-S tool be run at different diagnostic stations?
Unfortunately not; customers must purchase one LiSN-S per station.

How accurate is LiSN-S?
LiSN-S offers high test-retest reliability. Data from test-retest reliability studies has been used to develop LiSN-S ‘critical difference scores’. These scores allow the user to determine whether a child has made a genuine improvement over time, by simply retesting again with LiSN-S. Such retesting can be useful for determining, for example, whether a child’s listening skills have improved after some form of intervention.

What are the system’s requirements?
A sound treated room is required for LiSN-S, as all the system’s norms were gathered in such sound treated rooms.

What norms exist?
Norms exist for North American English and for Australian English. North American English can be used in the United States and Canada; Australian English can be used in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Norms exist for individuals from 6 to 60 years of age. Scores calculated for individuals outside the current normative ranges are invalid.

What results does LiSN-S produce?
The software indicates clearly, for all five measures, whether a child is within or outside normal limits. An individualized report containing the test results is automatically generated and can be saved, printed or sent by e-mail.

What does the LiSN-S package comprise?
LiSN-S comprises: proprietary software, the Phonak Soundcard, and specially designed, high quality headphones. The package also contains clear instructions to help users install and administer LiSN-S.

What are the test’s PC requirements?
Windows 2000, XP or Vista and a CD-ROM drive.

Will LiSN-S run on a Mac?
No. LiSN-S is only calibrated for PCs running the Windows versions noted above.

Can I run LiSN-S on a mini notebook?
This depends on the notebook’s screen resolution. The ideal recommended LiSN-S resolution is 800x600 and greater, however it is possible to navigate the software using a notebook with a resolution of 700x500. However if the resolution is less than this, you might not be able to see the whole LiSN-S frame on your mini notebook’s screen.

Can I easily update LiSN-S to future versions?
Yes. The software has an Automatic Internet Upgrade feature, which means that each time you start the software with your computer is connected to the internet, it will automatically check to see whether new updates are available. These free updates are then downloaded only with your consent. For example, updates might include new languages, new norms for different age groups, new resources and background information, reporting tools and so on.

Is a trial version of LiSN-S available?
Phonak in Switzerland is not offering trial versions of LiSN-S. However local in-country Phonak companies may – check with your local Phonak office to find out.

How do I make sure I am using the most up-to-date LiSN-S version?
Firstly, check which version you have installed: the software version number is shown in the 'About LiSN-S' box that pops up when you start the software. If LiSN-S is already open, click Help/About LISN-S Application to view this pop-up.

To install the latest version of LiSN-S, click the Help menu and choose Internet Upgrade Service. This will inform you if there is a new version available to install or not. Alternatively, the latest LiSN-S version can always be found in the Downloads box of our LiSN-S Software Versions page.