Assessment of Auditory Processing Skills in Egyptian Arabic Speaking Children with Specific Language Impairment: An Integrated Approach

Abstract Background: Central auditory processing disorder has been receiving a growing amount of attention because of the possible link between auditory processing disorders and learning disabilities in general and specific language impair-ment in particular. To date, there is limited research directly investigating the overlap in symptoms observed among children with central auditory processing disorder and children with specific language impairment. Aim of Study: To compare central auditory processing skills and language assessment scores in a group of Arabic speaking children having Specific Language Impairment in order to reach a better understanding of the relationship between both disorders. Patients and Methods: This study is conducted on 60 Arabic speaking children whom ages range from 5 to 8 years, divided into 2 equal groups; cases and controls. All children were subjected to a multi-disciplinary battery of assessments. The battery combined language assessment, cognitive assess-ment, series of auditory processing tasks and finally a parent rated questionnaire. Results: Out of the 30 children diagnosed with specific language impairment, 27 showed significantly lower scores in all the 4 central auditory processing tests than that in the control group, however, all cases showed positive results in at least 3 of the tests. Conclusion: Children with specific language impairment in the current study proved to have auditory processing deficits. Results of the study come to confirm the expected assumption that central auditory processing disorder coexists with Specific language impairment.