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 rules out hearing loss as the cause; it does not diagnose autism. Sound-processing differences often persist as the child grows and should be assessed by an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist. 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 )
• 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.

When this article was first written in 2011, listening-training programs such as Auditory Integration Training (AIT) were promoted for these difficulties. The evidence for them has not held up: the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics do not recommend AIT. Ask your child’s audiologist or speech-language pathologist what is supported today.

Many children with autism are sensitive to sound, and some find certain sounds painful. Sound sensitivity can lead to withdrawal, overload, and behavior that looks like temper or aggression. Why some children are so sensitive to sound is not fully understood.

These difficulties can be managed. A speech-language pathologist can build a plan around your child’s specific sound processing, and starting early helps. Nothing here is medical advice.

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

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