Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
[Auditory processing evaluation in children born preterm]
Júlia Gallo1, Karin Ziliotto Dias, Liliane Desgualdo Pereira
1Programa de Pós-graduação (Mestrado) em Distúrbios da Comunicação Humana, Universidade Federal de São Paulo – UNIFESP – São Paulo (SP), Brasil. fga.juliagallo@gmail.com
Insights
Children born preterm show poorer auditory processing skills compared to full-term peers. Early sound localization delays at 12 months predict later auditory processing deficits in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Audiology
- Pediatric audiology
Background:
- Premature birth is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental challenges.
- Auditory processing disorders (APDs) can impact language and learning.
- Early identification of auditory processing deficits is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate auditory processing in preterm children (4-7 years).
- To correlate auditory processing with early behavioral hearing assessments (12 months).
- To compare preterm and full-term children's auditory processing performance.
Main Methods:
- 30 children (4-7 years) divided into preterm and full-term groups.
- Auditory processing evaluation conducted for both groups.
- Correlation of preterm children's auditory processing with 12-month behavioral hearing data.
Main Results:
- Preterm children exhibited higher risk for central auditory processing deficits.
- 93.75% of preterm children showed auditory processing deficits.
- Significant group differences in temporal order, PSI, and speech-in-noise tests.
- Delayed sound localization at 12 months linked to temporal processing deficits.
Conclusions:
- Preterm children demonstrate inferior auditory processing compared to full-term children.
- Delayed sound localization at 12 months is associated with temporal processing deficits evident in later evaluations.
Purpose:
To verify the performance of children born preterm on auditory processing evaluation, and to correlate the data with behavioral hearing assessment carried out at 12 months of age, comparing the results to those of auditory processing evaluation of children born full-term.
Methods:
Participants were 30 children with ages between 4 and 7 years, who were divided into two groups: Group 1 (children born preterm), and Group 2 (children born full-term). The auditory processing results of Group 1 were correlated to data obtained from the behavioral auditory evaluation carried out at 12 months of age. The results were compared between groups.
Results:
Subjects in Group 1 presented at least one risk indicator for hearing loss at birth. In the behavioral auditory assessment carried out at 12 months of age, 38% of the children in Group 1 were at risk for central auditory processing deficits, and 93.75% presented auditory processing deficits on the evaluation. Significant differences were found between the groups for the temporal order test, the PSI test with ipsilateral competitive message, and the speech-in-noise test. The delay in sound localization ability was associated to temporal processing deficits.
Conclusion:
Children born preterm have worse performance in auditory processing evaluation than children born full-term. Delay in sound localization at 12 months is associated to deficits on the physiological mechanism of temporal processing in the auditory processing evaluation carried out between 4 and 7 years.
