A randomized control trial of interventions in school-aged children with auditory processing disorders

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) affects children's ability to interpret auditory information.
• Effective intervention strategies for APD are crucial for academic and social development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare bottom-up (auditory perception, phonological awareness) and top-down (language activities) interventions for children with APD.
• To evaluate the added benefits of personal FM systems in conjunction with these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized control trial involving 55 children (7-13 years) with APD.
• Participants were assigned to bottom-up, top-down, or control groups, with or without personal FM systems.
• A six-week intervention period with weekly therapist sessions and parent-directed homework.

Main Results:

• Both intervention approaches demonstrated positive outcomes in reading, language, and auditory processing.
• Personal FM systems provided additional benefits across various measures.
• Intervention effects were not influenced by pre-intervention nonverbal IQ, age, or APD severity.

Conclusions:

• Both bottom-up and top-down interventions are effective for children with APD.
• The use of personal FM systems enhances intervention outcomes.
• Intervention benefits extended beyond the specifically trained auditory skills.