Auditory Pathways and Processes: Implications for Neuropsychological Assessment and Diagnosis of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Neuroscience research on auditory processing pathways and their behavioral and electrophysiological correlates has taken place largely outside the field of clinical neuropsychology. Deviations and disruptions in auditory pathways in children and adolescents result in a well-documented range of developmental and learning impairments frequently referred for neuropsychological evaluation. This review is an introduction to research from the last decade. It describes auditory cortical and subcortical pathways and processes and relates recent research to specific conditions and questions neuropsychologists commonly encounter. Auditory processing disorders' comorbidity with ADHD and language-based disorders and research addressing the challenges of assessment and differential diagnosis are discussed.

Keywords:

• Auditory processing
• Auditory pathways
• Auditory subcortical pathways
• Attention deficit disorder
• Auditory processing disorder
• (Central) auditory processing
• (Central) auditory processing disorder
• Learning disability

The author is grateful for valuable constructive criticism provided by James W. Hall III, PhD, of an early draft of this paper. Any inadvertent errors in the area of audiology and evoked potentials are the responsibility of the author.