The role of suprathreshold auditory processing abilities in children with specific learning disorder

Kursad Karakoc; Filiz Aslan; Bunyamin Cildir; Ebru Cengel Kultur; Meral Didem Turkyilmaz

doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111660

The role of suprathreshold auditory processing abilities in children with specific learning disorder

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Sep:172:111660. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111660. Epub 2023 Jul 18.

Authors

Kursad Karakoc¹, Filiz Aslan², Bunyamin Cildir³, Ebru Cengel Kultur⁴, Meral Didem Turkyilmaz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: kkarakoc@ybu.edu.tr.
² Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
³ Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

PMID: 37480808
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111660

Abstract

Objective: To assess the suprathreshold auditory processing and speech recognition abilities in noise in children with specific learning disorder (SLD).

Methods: A group of twenty-five children diagnosed with SLD and a control group of twenty-five neuro-typical children were included in the study. All the participants were between 6-11 years old. To evaluate suprathreshold auditory processing abilities, the participants were given the Temporal Fine Structure (TFS) Sensitivity Test and the Temporal Envelope (TE) Sensitivity Test, as well as the Consonant Identification Test, was administered to evaluate speech recognition ability in noise. In addition, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) intelligence test was applied to children with SLD, and the relationship between WISC-IV intelligence test scores in different skills and suprathreshold auditory processing and speech recognition abilities in noise was investigated.

Results: Significant differences were found between children diagnosed with SLD and neuro-typical children in terms of suprathreshold auditory processing tasks and speech recognition in noise. Additionally, no correlation was found between suprathreshold auditory processing tasks, speech recognition in noise, and intelligence tests.

Conclusion: Suprathreshold auditory processing and speech recognition abilities in noise were found to be affected in children with SLD. A holistic evaluation including a multidisciplinary approach that includes suprathreshold auditory processing abilities is required for children diagnosed with SLD.

Keywords: Psychoacoustic; Specific learning disorder; Speech recognition in noise; Suprathreshold auditory processing; Temporal envelope; Temporal fine structure.

MeSH terms

Auditory Perception
Child
Humans
Intelligence Tests
Specific Learning Disorder*