[Epidemiology of central auditory disorders in school-age children. Literature review]

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Central auditory disorders (CSD) involve impaired sound processing above the brainstem's cochlear nuclei.
• CSD significantly impacts speech recognition, particularly in noisy environments.
• Affected children often experience behavioral issues and developmental delays, affecting school learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze existing literature on the epidemiology of central auditory disorders in school-aged children.
• To understand the prevalence and diagnostic approaches for CSD in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, etc.).
• Initial search yielded 328 articles; 9 studies were included after detailed analysis.
• Diagnostic methods included speech audiometry and non-speech auditory tests.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of CSD in school-aged children ranges from 0.2% to 43.3%, with a median of 8.6±14.6%.
• Prevalence estimates vary significantly based on diagnostic methods and criteria.
• Common diagnostic tools include speech intelligibility in noise tests and dichotic listening tests.

Conclusions:

• Further population-based epidemiological studies are required for Russian schoolchildren.
• Standardized diagnostic protocols and adequate sample sizes are crucial for accurate CSD prevalence data.
• Improved understanding of CSD epidemiology will aid in early identification and intervention.