Visual Processing Impairment in Children With Suspected Auditory Processing Disorder: A Transdisciplinary Dimensional...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) diagnosis can be challenging.
• Identifying reliable reference standards for APD is crucial for accurate diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of impairments in language (LI), manual dexterity (IMD), and visual perceptual skills (IVPS) as diagnostic criteria for APD.
• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of APD using combined auditory processing (AP) tests and comorbidities versus AP tests alone.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of data from 104 children (6-16 years) with suspected APD.
• Utilized specific tests for AP (Auditory Figure Ground, Competing Words-Directed Ear, Time-Compressed Sentences), LI (GCC), IMD (Movement Assessment Battery), and IVPS (TVPS-3).

Main Results:

• High prevalence of comorbidities: 77.8% LI, 55.8% IVPS, 35.6% IMD.
• A combined diagnostic approach using AP tests and comorbidities demonstrated superior accuracy (up to 92.2%) compared to AP tests alone.
• The 9th percentile AP test cutoff showed better diagnostic accuracy than the conventional 2nd percentile cutoff.

Conclusions:

• Impairments in language, manual dexterity, and visual perception are significantly related to AP and serve as effective reference standards for APD diagnosis.
• APD diagnosis is more reliable when at least one comorbidity is present alongside a failed AP test.
• The 9th percentile cutoff for AP tests offers improved diagnostic precision for APD.