Hearing Problem of Audio Disconnect in Children with Autism

An apparent hearing deficit is one of the early signs that a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD or autism) may exhibit. A hearing test can rule out hearing loss, an important step when autism is being considered. Differences in how sound is processed can continue as children grow. Autism has commonly been associated with auditory processing disorders, which are undetected by a hearing test. The common auditory processing disorders found in children with autism include:

• Hyposensitivity (i.e., not getting enough auditory information due to their “hypo” senses)
• Hypersensitivity (i.e., the ability to hear the slightest sounds)
• Delays in auditory processing (i.e., instructions have been heard and recorded without understanding until the processing of the received message is done)
• Inability to filter auditory information (i.e., inability to differentiate between foreground and background noises [gestalt perception])
• Inability to adapt to certain sounds

The hearing problems associated with autism involve the proper working of the ear with an impaired central auditory system that interprets and analyzes the auditory information. The signs that indicate the presence of the hearing problem of audio disconnect in children with autism include:

• The child may seem deaf on some occasions but hears the least audible sounds on other occasions.
• The child covers his ears to specific sounds that are not loud.
• The child is a very light sleeper (i.e., awoken by the slightest sounds).
• The child makes loud sounds by banging doors, drumming things, singing, etc.
• The child is unable to concentrate in noisy environments.
• The child has speaking problems.

The auditory modulation disorder in children with autism affects their ability to process sound and words, hypersensitivity, sequencing, a combination of visual-auditory information, and may result in impaired auditory memory.

Listening programs such as Auditory Integration Training (AIT) have been offered for these problems, but a review of the research found no good evidence that AIT helps autistic children (Sinha et al., 2011), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association does not consider it an established treatment. An audiologist can test hearing and auditory processing, and your child's therapists can help with sound sensitivity, for example by building tolerance gradually or using ear defenders.

Many children with autism are very sensitive to some sounds, which can be distressing or even painful for them. Hypersensitivity results in lack of socialization, speech disorder, and overload behavior leading to bad temper and aggressiveness.

Hearing problems of audio disconnect in children with autism is not curable but treatable. Your child's audiologist and therapy team can suggest supports for sound sensitivity.

References:

Listen And Learn Centre - Melbourne, Australia. www.auditoryprocessing.com.au: Auditory Processing Disorder, retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://www.auditoryprocessing.com.au/1-auditory.html

Filtered Sound Training. www.filteredsoundtraining.net: Problems of Auditory Processing as a Key Feature of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism)

Kids Health. Kidhealth.org About Auditory Processing Disorder http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html

Sinha, Y., Silove, N., Hayen, A., & Williams, K. (2011). Auditory integration training and other sound therapies for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD003681.

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