Same or Different: The Overlap Between Children With Auditory Processing Disorders and Children With Other...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Audiology

Background:

• Auditory processing disorder (APD) presents challenges in auditory functioning, memory, attention, language, and reading.
• The distinctiveness of APD behavioral characteristics compared to other developmental disorders like SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, LD, and autism spectrum disorder remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify overlapping characteristics between APD and other developmental disorders (SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, LD, autism spectrum disorder).
• To determine unique characteristics that differentiate APD in children from other developmental disorders.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsychINFO, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EMBASE) was conducted.
• Peer-reviewed studies published from 1954 to May 2015, comparing children with APD to those with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD, were included.
• Methodological quality was assessed using the ASHA levels-of-evidence scheme.

Main Results:

• Thirteen studies of moderate methodological quality were included; ten involved children with comorbid diagnoses.
• Children with APD showed broadly similar characteristics to those with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD, with minor differences noted in auditory and visual sensory/perceptual tasks.
• No studies compared APD with autism spectrum disorder; differences found were inconsistent and not universally applicable across all comparisons.

Conclusions:

• Children with APD perform similarly to those with SLI, dyslexia, ADHD, and LD on intelligence, memory, attention, and language tests.
• Small differences were observed in sensory and perceptual functioning, with dyslexia potentially impacting reading more than APD.
• Further high-quality research is essential to elucidate the precise differences and similarities among children with various neurodevelopmental disorders.