Clinical Decision-Making in the Assessment and Intervention of Central Auditory Processing Disorders

Central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) are fraught with problems arising from confusion concerning the clinical evidence of the disorder. A major controversy revolves around characterizing the disorder as a unique cluster of behaviors reflecting impairment in some underlying mechanism(s) or as a disorder defined on the basis of performance on a set of tests. This article reviews some recent developments in auditory processing research and considers the role of the speech-language pathologist in evaluating and treating children with suspected auditory processing problems. Particular attention is given to clinical criteria, including characteristics of the population, assessment, and intervention considerations. Areas for clinical caution are highlighted.