Reported Listening-in-Noise Difficulties as a Gold Standard in Pediatric Auditory Processing Disorder

This study examined the relationship between reported listening difficulties and behavioral auditory processing measures in children. Additionally, the role of reported listening difficulty was explored within pediatric auditory processing disorder diagnosis when a true biological gold standard is unavailable.

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Clinicians should be cautious about relying on reported listening-in-noise difficulties alone as a diagnostic standard for pediatric APD; formal behavioral testing remains essential given the uncertain relationship found.

Establishing or refuting reported symptoms as a diagnostic anchor for pediatric APD has major implications for how children are referred, tested, and diagnosed in audiology practice.

1. 01Examines whether parent/self-reported listening-in-noise difficulties can serve as a gold standard for pediatric APD diagnosis.
2. 02Compares subjective reports to objective behavioral auditory processing test measures.
3. 03Addresses a longstanding debate about the validity of symptom-based APD diagnosis in children.
4. 04Published in the American Journal of Audiology.
5. 05Findings have direct implications for referral pathways and diagnostic criteria for pediatric APD.

PMID

42970476

DOI

10.1044/2026_AJA-25-00345.

Journal

American Journal of Audiology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Children assessed for auditory processing disorder

Intervention

Parent- or self-reported listening-in-noise difficulties as a diagnostic indicator

Comparator

Behavioral auditory processing test measures