Variation in auditory performance in children with phonological and auditory processing disorders after stimulation program

Author(s)

Nadia Vilela

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD)
• Defense date: 2011-08-19

Examining board members

Renata Mota Mamede de Carvallo; Alessandra Spada Durante; Haydée Fiszbein Wertzner

• Advisor: Renata Mota Mamede de Carvallo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The auditory training has been being an important tool to stimulate individuals with (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder ((C)APD). Moreover, the presence of (C)APD in children with phonological disorders is not uncommon. PURPOSE: The development of an auditory stimulation program, and the comparison of the performance in behavioral tests of (central) auditory processing ((C)AP) in children with phonological disorders who have undergone formal and informal auditory training. METHODS: A program of auditory stimulation was developed in order to obtain controlled material for informal auditory training. Fifteen subjects with phonological disorder ( 20 dB HL tone thresholds at frequencies from 0.50 to 4 kHz and age between 7:0 and 10:11 years) were evaluated through the Figure Identification test with ipsilateral competitive noise, Dichotic Digits test, Pitch Pattern Sequence and Duration Pattern Sequence test, forming three groups: The Control Group (C group) consisting of five subjects (average 9.1 years) with alteration in only one behavioral test of the (C)AP; the Formal Auditory Training Group (FT group) with five subjects (average 8.3 years) with alteration in at least two (C)AP tests; and the Informal Auditory Training Group (IT group), with five subjects (average 8.1 years) with alteration in at least two tests. All participants were assessed for degree of severity of phonological disorders and conducted two evaluations of the (C)PA at intervals of six to eight weeks without receiving any therapy. After the second evaluation of the (C)AP, the children of the FT group underwent eight formal auditory training sessions and the children of the IT group received eight sessions of informal auditory training. After the FT and IT, the children have been re-evaluated on the (C)AP. RESULTS: The severity of phonological disorder was different between the control group and the FT and IT groups (p=0,007). After eight sessions of IT there was an improvement in all tests, except for the Dichotic Digits test in the right ear. Between the first and the third evaluation of (C)AP, a statistical difference was observed in the IT group for the figure identification test in the right and left ears (p=0,02). Improvement occurred in auditory performance before and after training in the FT and IT groups, although no statistical difference was observed. CONCLUSION: The severity of the disorder seems to be related to the presence of (C)APD. The application of eight sessions of IT was also able to induce improvement in the performance of children with (C)AP and phonological disorders (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/07652-5 - Variation in the auditory performance after stimulation program in children with Auditory Processing disorders
• Grantee: Nadia Vilela
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master