Otoacoustic emission suppression in children diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder and speech in noise perception deficits

Objective: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that medial olivocochlear system functionality is associated with speech recognition in babble performance in children diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder. Method: Children diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder who specifically demonstrated speech in noise deficits were compared to children diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder without these deficits. Suppression effects were examined across 15 time intervals to examine variability. Analysis of right and left ear suppression was performed separately to evaluate laterality. Study sample: 52 children diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder, aged 6-14 years were divided into normal or abnormal groups based on SinB performance in each ear. Cut-off value was set at SNR = 1.33 dB. Transient otoacoustic emissions suppression was measured. Results: The abnormal Speech in Babble Right Ear group showed significant negative correlations with suppression levels for 7 of the 15 time intervals measured. No significant correlations with SinBR performance were observed for the remaining time intervals, as was the case for the typically evaluated R8-18 time interval and the Speech in Babble Left Ear. Conclusions: Results indicate that suppression is influenced by the time window analysed, and ear tested, and is associated with speech recognition in babble performance in children with central auditory processing disorder.