Three case studies of children with suspected auditory processing disorder

Case studies are detailed for three children referred for central auditory processing assessment. All performed more than 5 standard deviations below the mean normative data score for their age group on both the Random Gap Detection Test, and the spatial advantage measure of the newly developed Listening in Spatialized Noise test (LISN®). The LISN spatial advantage measure assesses the listener's ability to use binaural cues to comprehend a target story in the presence of spatially separated distracter sentences, without being affected by differences between participants in variables such as linguistic skills. The children were also greater than 2 standard deviations below the mean on the LISN high-cue SNR, which assess the actual signal-to-noise ratio required to understand the story when all cues are present. Similarities and differences in presenting profiles, and teacher reports, are discussed, and results on a range of other central assessment tools are also detailed. The results suggest that these children would benefit from an improved signal-to-noise ratio in the classroom. Other management strategies are also outlined.