Central Auditory Processing Abilities in Children with Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip/and Palate-a Behavioural Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Audiology

Background:

• Non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP) can impact various developmental aspects.
• Central auditory processing and working memory are crucial for language and cognitive development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate central auditory processing abilities and working memory in children with NSCLP.
• To compare these abilities between NSCLP children and craniofacially normal peers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Speech Perception in Noise Kannada (SPIN-K), Gap Detection Threshold (GDT), Dichotic Consonant-Vowel (DCV), and Masking Level Difference (MLD) tests.
• Assessed working memory using forward and backward digit span tests.
• Recruited 16 NSCLP children (7-12 years) and 15 craniofacially normal peers.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in SPIN-K, DCV, GDT, forward digit span, and backward digit span scores.
• NSCLP children demonstrated poorer performance in auditory processing and working memory tasks.

Conclusions:

• Children with NSCLP are at risk for developing auditory processing deficits.
• Routine assessment of central auditory processing abilities is recommended for children with NSCLP.