Evaluation of long term outcome of auditory training programs in children with auditory processing disorders

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the long term effects of Arabic auditory training 'AT' programs in Egyptian school-aged children with auditory processing disorders 'APD'.

Methods: Thirty children with APD who received the proper regular AT for minimum duration of 2 months were included. They were subjected to functional measures 'questionnaire for APD' and psychophysical test battery. It comprised dichotic digits, pitch pattern sequence 'PPS', gap in noise detection 'GIN' and the memory tests. New bench mark battery was applied in the form of the duration pattern, the dichotic rhyme and the informal memory tests. The results of different tests were compared across the evaluation sessions 'pre-training, immediate post training, and the late outcome'.

Results: The children were evaluated after mean duration 24.5 months, ranged 7-42 months from the end of AT. No deterioration in the scores of Arabic questionnaire or the psychophysical tests was observed compared to the immediate post training evaluation. The bench mark tests scores matched the age based norms. A statistical significant correlation existed between PPS, GIN tests and the functional measures.

Conclusion: The outcome of the AT program showed long term consistency. The temporal processing tests (PPS, GIN) were sensitive tools in monitoring the progress of training. The new bench mark test battery used was effective as the diagnostic test battery in assessing the long term effects of AT program.

Keywords: APD; Auditory training; Long term outcome.