Publication
The prevalence and developmental course of auditory processing differences in autistic children
Publisher:
Wiley
Date:
28-06-2023
DOI:
10.1002/AUR.2961
Abstract: Auditory processing differences, including hyper‐ or hyposensitivity to sound, aversions to sound, and difficulty listening under noisy, real‐world conditions, are commonly reported in autistic in iduals. However, the developmental course and functional impact of these auditory processing differences are unclear. In this study, we investigate the prevalence, developmental trajectory, and functional impact of auditory processing differences in autistic children throughout childhood using a longitudinal study design. Auditory processing differences were measured using the Short Sensory Profile, a caregiver questionnaire, in addition to adaptive behaviors and disruptive/concerning behaviors at 3, 6, and 9 years of age. Our results showed that auditory processing differences were reported in greater than 70% of the autistic children in our s le at all three timepoints, maintained a high prevalence through 9 years of age, and were associated with increased disruptive/concerning behaviors and difficulty with adaptive behaviors. Furthermore, in our s le of children, auditory processing differences at age 3 years predicted disruptive/concerning behaviors and difficulty with adaptive behaviors at age 9 years. These findings warrant further investigations of the potential benefit of incorporating measures of auditory processing during routine clinical evaluations as well as interventions targeting auditory processing differences in autistic children.