Binaural Interaction Component of Middle Latency Response in Children Suspected to Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Binaural processing disorder is an important deficit in children with (C)APD so binaural processing evaluations are crucial. There are subjective and objective tests for assessing binaural processing. Subjective tests require patient attention and active so objective evaluation of binaural processing is important. The aim of present study was investigating binaural interaction component (BIC) of middle latency response (MLR) in children suspected to (C)APD. Sixty 8–12 year-old children suspected to (C)APD and sixty normal children were selected based on inclusion criteria. Both groups were matched in terms of sex (40 boys and 20 girls) and age (9.05 ± 1.25 years old). MLR test (monaural right ear, monaural left ear and binaural) was performed in all the cases and BIC was calculated by subtracting binaural response from summed monaural responses. Independent t test showed that latency of Pa and Na (ms), Pa–Na amplitude (µv), BIC latency (ms) and amplitude (µv) were significantly different from normal subjects (p value ≤0.001). Present study showed that MLR and BIC of MLR are clinically available and objective tests that can be used to determining children suspected to (C)APD. These tests might have the potential to separating normal children from children with (C)APD objectively.