Auditory Processing Disorders

and Learning

Prof. Somia TawfikAudiology Unit

Ain Shams University

Is there a link?

The process of education and learning constitutes a major part in life.

Education is a multi-faceted process that includes:

Innate abilitiesInnate abilitiesTeaching effectivenessTeaching effectiveness

Parental supportParental support

EnvironmentEnvironment

Innate abilities:

AUDITORY CHANNELIS

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AVENUES

FOR

Auditory perception

Auditory Processing Disorders

• It is a deficit in the processing of auditory information.

• It is perceptual dysfunction even though peripheral hearing sensitivity is normal.

Auditory Processing Disorders

one of the contributing causes of learning problems

Why this association???

A child with Auditory Processing Disorders has:

1- Difficulty in reception and interpretation of auditory information.

2- Difficulty in understanding the message.

3- Difficulty to make sense of what is heard.

Learning problems in children with CAPD become manifested when their systems are challenged by real-world listening situations such as:

Increased speaker rate

background noise

Subtle sound differences

Multi-talkers

Breakdown in the child’s auditory abilities that results in poor

educational achievement through the

auditory channel

learning problems

What are the affected areas of learning in CAPD children?

Auditory processing deficit can affect all areas of learning

Reading

Spelling

• There is a close association between auditory perception and reading disabilities in children.

(Talla, 1980)

• CAPD can influence reading and leads to learning problems.

(Gillet, 1993)

• Auditory Processing Deficits may be present in a significant number of children with reading problems.

(Deborah, 2004)

In contrast:

• Bishop et al.(1999) pointed out that auditory processing deficits is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause learning problems.

• Another review study by Rosen (2003) reported

that auditory processing deficits appear not to be causally related to learning disability, but only occur in association.

Studies conducted at Ain Shams University:

• A study on school-aged children with scholastic underachievement showed that 32% has auditory processing disorders.

(Kamal et al., 2004)

• 46% of children presented to the Audiology Unit, Central Clinic, complained of learning problems

(Statistics 95- 2005)

• A study conducted on 50 children with poor scholastic achievement showed that 96% had auditory attention and auditory memory problems.

(Tawfik et al., 2002)

• Relation between CAPD and learning problems is complex.

• Many children with learning problems do not exhibit Auditory Processing Disorders.

• Auditory Processing Disorders does not necessarily lead to learning problems.

• To increase the awareness of different specialities on the link between auditory processing and learning.

• A child with learning problems

should have evaluation of auditory processing abilities before implementing the management plan.

A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory for assessment, diagnosis and management of children with learning problems

• Audiologists and Phoniatricians are indispensable members of the comprehensive therapy team:

– Provide full diagnostic evaluation.– Appropriate remedial efforts.– Control the educational settings

10 years old boy with learning disability

wrote a poem called confusion:When you are confused

You try to hide itBecause all the other kids get it & you don’tIt is always frustrating

To feel like you are stupidSometimes u feel like you

are in another countryAnd don’t speak their language.

(ELDA, 2002)