ARCHIVED Revised Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP)
This assessment is a profile consisting of several performance categories, relating to auditory perception. It’s arranged in a hierarchy of skills that increase in difficulty. For example, from the ability to perceive environmental sounds, through understanding conversation with lip-reading, up to using the telephone. It takes a few minutes to complete and is an easy-to-use tool for monitoring progress in the long-term.
This revision was designed to add more levels to the higher part of the scale, in order to reflect and monitor advanced listening skills targeted for acquisition prior to school. All steps are by audition alone.
What age range?
Birth–adult
Who can use it?
A range of professionals who work with deaf children and have access to the guidelines can complete the profile. Parents and older users themselves can complete it.
What does it give us?
It gives us a profile of developing auditory skills over time, which is readily understood, and gives information to feed back to audiologists. It’s been used in cost-effectiveness studies, and to measure progress.
How is it used?
It’s not a test, but a profile which can be used, following the guidelines, by observation in everyday life by parents, carers and professionals. The observer notes whether the behaviour has been well established, according to clear guidelines. This gives a score and enables progress to be tracked over time.
Pros
- Revised CAP can be used by parents and non-specialist teachers.
- Can be used in everyday settings and play situations.
- Can be used to identify progress, or lack of, in the development of listening skills.
- Has been used in research studies.
Cons
- Not standardised.
- Profile steps are not equal and are large.
Is there a cost?
No