Presentation of an Auditory Training Protocol Applied in Children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

Abstract

Purpose: To present an auditory training protocol in children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).

Methods: The study included nine children aged from 9 to 12, with five females and four males. Only children with auditory thresholds within the normal range and bilateral type A tympanometric curves were selected. Initially, a behavioral assessment of Central Auditory Processing (CAP) was conducted, and a self-perception questionnaire was administered. Subsequently, eight sessions of auditory training were conducted following a defined protocol with four specific activities per session, aimed at training distinct auditory skills. In a third phase, a new CAP behavioral assessment was carried out, and the questionnaire was reapplied.

Results: The quantitative analysis of the pre- and post-training behavioral tests showed statistically significant improvements in the Left Dichotic Digit Test (DDT), the Left Competing Dissyllable Test (SSW), the Left Synthetic Sentence Identification with Ipsilateral Competing Message Test (SSI), and the Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT). An improvement in auditory behavioral perception of the participants was also observed, as indicated by the self-perception questionnaire responses.

Conclusion: Although the auditory training protocol did not result in complete normalization in the Central Auditory Processing (CAP) Behavioral Assessment tests, an improvement in the auditory skills of binaural integration, figure-ground and temporal resolution of participants was observed, as well as in their personal perception of these abilities.