Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Changes in central auditory processing following temporal lobectomies in children
J L Cranford1, T Kennalley, W Svoboda
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
Insights
Temporal lobectomies for epilepsy may not always improve central auditory processing. Postoperative testing in children showed varied results, with some improving and others showing no change or decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Unilateral temporal lobe ablations are common for intractable epilepsy.
- Central auditory processing (CAP) function evaluation is crucial post-surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess postoperative changes in CAP functions in children after temporal lobectomies.
- To determine the impact of temporal lobectomies on auditory processing.
Main Methods:
- Five children (11-16 years) underwent CAP testing before and 1 year after surgery.
- Tests included SCAN, Duration Pattern, Dichotic Digits, and P300 event-related potential.
Main Results:
- Individual results varied: some children showed CAP improvement, others showed no change or decline.
- No consistent pattern of auditory processing improvement was observed across all participants.
Conclusions:
- Temporal lobectomies, while effective for seizure control, do not uniformly enhance central auditory processing.
- Further research is needed to understand factors influencing CAP outcomes post-ablation.
Abstract:
Unilateral temporal lobe ablations have become a common treatment procedure for intractable epilepsy. Five children, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years, received a battery of tests to evaluate possible postoperative changes in central auditory processing functions. Children were tested before surgery and at 1 year following surgery. Tests included the SCAN test for central auditory processing, the duration pattern and dichotic digits tests, and the P300 event-related potential. With each test, some children exhibited postoperative improvement, while others exhibited either no changes or poorer postoperative performances. These results indicate that temporal lobectomies, while controlling seizures, may not always result in improved central auditory processing.
