Central Auditory Processing Disorder: a systematic search and evaluation of clinical practice guidelines

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Growing interest in Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) necessitates high-quality clinical guidelines.
• Existing guidelines require critical evaluation to support evidence-based practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically search and critically appraise published clinical practice guidelines for CAPD.
• To inform the development of future evidence-based guidelines for CAPD management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines.
• Critical appraisal of identified guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines and Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool.

Main Results:

• Five clinical practice guidelines for CAPD were identified and evaluated.
• The British Society of Audiology guideline received the highest scores for scope, rigor, applicability, and overall quality.

Conclusions:

• The AGREE II tool effectively assesses the methodological quality of CAPD guidelines.
• Findings provide direction for improving future CAPD clinical practice guidelines.