Speech-in-Noise and Dichotic Auditory Training Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publication: Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
Volume 55, Number 4
Pages 1054-1067
Abstract
Purpose:
Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit auditory processing issues, including poor speech recognition in background noise and dichotic processing (integration of different stimuli presented to the two ears). Auditory training could mitigate these auditory difficulties. However, few auditory training programs have been designed to target specific listening deficits for students with ASD. The present study summarizes the development of an innovative, one-on-one, clinician-developed speech-in-noise (SIN) training program that has not been previously described and an existing dichotic auditory training program to address common auditory processing deficits in students with ASD.
Method:
Twenty verbal students with ASD, ages 7–17 years, completed a one-on-one, clinician-developed SIN training program and a commercially available dichotic training program 2–3 times a week (30–45 min per session) for 12 weeks. Maximum and minimum training levels from the SIN and dichotic training programs were analyzed statistically to document changes in training level over the training period.
Results:
Analyses of the pre- and posttraining data revealed significant improvements in training level for both the SIN and dichotic training programs.
Conclusions:
Overall, the proposed SIN training resulted in significant improvements in training level and may be used along with dichotic training to improve some of the most common auditory processing issues documented in verbal individuals with ASD requiring minimal support. Both types of auditory training may be implemented in one-on-one therapy in clinics and in the schools.
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Published In
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
Volume 55 • Number 4 • October 2024
Pages: 1054-1067
PubMed: 39008496
Copyright
Copyright © 2024 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
History
- Received: Oct 20, 2023
- Revised: Jan 31, 2024
- Accepted: May 21, 2024
- Published online: Jul 15, 2024
- Published in issue: Oct 16, 2024
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Citing Literature
- Erin C. Schafer, Kamakshi V. Gopal, Lauren Mathews, Sharon Miller, Boji P. W. Lam, Impact of an Auditory Processing Training Program on Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, American Journal of Audiology, 10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00134, 33, 4, (1221-1236), (2024).
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