Speech-in-Noise and Dichotic Auditory Training Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Speech and Hearing Sciences

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with auditory processing deficits.
• Difficulties include impaired speech recognition in noise and challenges with dichotic listening.
• Existing auditory training programs often do not specifically target these deficits in students with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative, clinician-created speech-in-noise (SIN) training program.
• To assess the efficacy of an existing dichotic auditory training program.
• To address common auditory processing deficits in verbal students with ASD.

Main Methods:

• Twenty verbal students with ASD (ages 7-17) participated.
• Participants underwent one-on-one SIN and dichotic auditory training sessions 2-3 times weekly for 12 weeks.
• Training levels were statistically analyzed to track changes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in training levels were observed for both the SIN and dichotic auditory training programs.
• Pre- and post-training data demonstrated measurable gains in auditory processing abilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed SIN training program shows significant improvements in training level.
• Combined SIN and dichotic training may enhance auditory processing in verbal individuals with ASD.
• These auditory training interventions are suitable for one-on-one therapy in clinical and educational settings.