Central Auditory Behaviors in Learning-Disabled Children

A series of tests designed to measure central auditory function has been administered clinically to learning-disabled (LD) children over the past several years. The validity of these tests had been established previously on adults with well-defined lesions in the brain and brainstem. The results on LD children are diverse and do not correlate well with existing commercial measures that are widely used. These differences, and the lack of dependable training techniques, makes therapeutic intervention questionable at present unless other needs coexist. However, other management strategies, aimed at controlling the auditory environment, are developing and can be remarkably effective.