Relationship between auditory processing disorders and attentional difficulties

Objectives: Attention deficit often emerges in individuals with auditory processing disorder and the relationship between them has not yet been completely understood. The aim of the present review is to investigate whether auditory attention deficit occurs in comorbidity or represents an expression of the same disorder and to compare different diagnostic and management criteria in the existing literature. Methods: A literature review was performed on the PubMed database that yielded 59 records, which were subsequently screened using PICO model. Out of 22 selected articles, four were excluded for non-adherence to the clinical question. Finally, 18 articles were included: one narrative review and 17 empirical research studies. Results: Twenty-two articles were analysed and compared in order to answer to the clinical question along with the assessment instruments of auditory processing and auditory attention. Conclusions: Our review pointed out a greater tendency to consider auditory processing disorder and deficit of attention as distinct entities often in comorbidity. Thus, it is important to evaluate the attentional performances in subjects with auditory processing disorder with particular regard to those who are suspected to suffer also from behavioural, language development or learning difficulties.