A Review of Preschool Children who Exhibit Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder: Listening Difficulties in Noise

Abstract

This article reviews issues found in studies of preschool children regarding symptoms of auditory processing disorder, notably listening difficulties in noise. Nursery teachers care considerably about the social and behavioral issues in preschool children, although they are less concerned about their listening problems. These problems are known as auditory processing disorder (APD). However, the definition of APD is still being discussed, and a few studies have focused on the present status of preschool children who exhibit symptoms of APD. Further studies are necessary to assess these issues and establish an appropriate assessment method. Listening difficulty in noise is one of the most well-known symptoms of APD. Previous studies have consistently indicated that speech-in-noise perception in preschool children is poorer than that in adults. Some preschool children especially exhibited significantly lower performance than children of the same chronological agedid. Such poor speech perceptions might be associated with skills of selective attention and/or phonological awareness. Further studies would be necessary to clarify the relationship between speech perception and cognitive factors.