Mapping the Auditory Processing Assessment Procedures and Results in Dysphonic Individuals: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Speech and Hearing Sciences
• Neuroscience
• Clinical Audiology

Background:

• Growing evidence links auditory processing to vocal function.
• Central auditory impairments may affect voice perception and regulation.
• Understanding auditory assessment in voice disorders is crucial for vocal control insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe auditory processing evaluation methods in voice disorder patients.
• To map current procedures and findings in auditory processing assessment for voice disorders.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searched six databases and gray literature; screened 1,258 records.
• Included six studies evaluating 97 adults with voice disorders.

Main Results:

• Predominance of behavioral auditory assessments identified.
• Temporal ordering abilities (sound pattern recognition) were most frequently evaluated.
• Nearly half of participants (49.6%) showed temporal processing deficits.

Conclusions:

• Auditory processing assessment in voice disorders relies heavily on behavioral temporal ordering tasks.
• Deficits in temporal processing are consistently observed, impacting vocal control.
• Need for standardized, multimodal (behavioral and electrophysiological) assessments for voice rehabilitation.