Executive functioning skills of children with listening difficulties

Abstract

Children with normal hearing who present with listening difficulties (LiD) are frequently referred for assessment of auditory processing disorder (APD). Complicating diagnosis is the similarities of APD to other neurodevelopmental disorders, especially attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Due to well‐documented deficits in executive functioning (EF) in children with ADHD, we hypothesized that a possible root cause of observed listening deficits may be EF deficits, rather than auditory processing alone. For preliminary investigation into this hypothesis, the current study compared EF skills of children with LiD who were referred for APD assessment, with and without a diagnosis of ADHD. EF skills of 24 children between the ages of 7–16 were assessed utilizing the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome in Children, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, 2nd edition. Compelling differences were found between groups of children with LiD. Children without ADHD scored lower on measures of inhibitory control compared to children with a diagnosis of ADHD. Decreased EF skills exhibited in children with LiD, even those without a diagnosis of ADHD, support the need for transdisciplinary identification and management of children with LiD.

Amplitude modulation perception and cortical evoked potentials in children with listening difficulties and their typically-developing peers

“…There is reason to question the validity of that assertion. For example, several recent studies with pediatric and adolescent samples have highlighted cognitive deficits as major contributing factors in LiD (e.g., McGrath et al, 2023;Pascoinelli et al, 2021;Petley et al, 2021).…”