Abstract

ENGELMANN, Lucilene  and  FERREIRA, Maria Inês Dornelles da Costa. Auditory processing evaluation in children with learning difficulties. Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol. [online]. 2009, vol.14, n.1, pp. 69-74. ISSN 1982-0232.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-80342009000100012.

PURPOSE: To clarify the relationship between learning difficulties and auditory processing disorder in second grade students. METHODS: Based on the application of reading tests, the students of a second grade class of an elementary school were classified into two groups, according to their reading fluency: a group with better fluency (group A) and another with less fluency (group B). A between-group analysis of the auditory processing tests was carried out. RESULTS: All participants presented learning difficulties and auditory processing disorder in almost every primary subprofiles. It was observed that the verbal sequential memory abilities of the less fluent group (group B) was significantly better (p=0,030). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of primary auditory processing disorder is questioned, and it is emphasized the importance of stimulating verbal sequential memory to the learning of reading and writing abilities. In light of the results obtained, further researches are needed in order to study this variable and its relationship to temporal auditory processing.

Keywords : Auditory perception; Auditory perceptual disorders; Child; Reading; Learning; Developmental disabilities; Hearing disorders.