Factors in childhood and adolescence that may influence the auditory processing: a systematic review

Abstract: There is a consensus in the literature on the importance of the auditory system for the development of oral and written language. The Auditory Processing Disorder refers to the difficulty of processing auditory information. The aim of this systematic literature review was to analyze which factors occurring in childhood and adolescence may influence the auditory processing and that are not necessarily the cause or consequence of the disorder. Two researchers used the PubMed and SciELO databases independently. The descriptors used were auditory processing, auditory perception, children and adolescence, in various combinations. Among the 205 articles identified, 30 articles matched the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Only two studies showed positive factors influencing auditory processing skills: the influence of musical stimulation in infancy and the use of methylphenidate as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The influences are, mostly, negative for the auditory processing, and we emphasize the relationship of the disorder with dyslexia, learning difficulties, specific language impairment, low socioeconomic status, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, premature birth, phonological disorders, visual impairment, mouth breathing, stuttering, otitis media, cleft lip and palate, anemia, exposure to metallic mercury, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, CVA, socially vulnerable children and dysphonic children. The Auditory Processing is sensitive to the negative influences related to environmental and chemical factors, socioeconomic status, and language, auditory and neurological disorders. Exposure to music and the use of methylphenidate were the only factors with positive influence on the auditory processing.摘要：现有研究文献已达成共识：听觉系统对口头与书面语言的发展具有关键作用。听觉处理障碍（Auditory Processing Disorder）指个体在处理听觉信息时存在困难。本系统综述旨在探讨儿童及青少年时期出现的、未必是听觉处理障碍诱因或后果的各类因素，对听觉处理过程的影响。两名研究人员独立检索了PubMed与SciELO数据库，检索时采用的关键词组合涵盖听觉处理、听觉感知、儿童与青少年等主题。初检共获取205篇文献，其中30篇符合纳入标准并被纳入最终分析。仅有两项研究报告了对听觉处理能力存在正向影响的因素：婴儿期音乐刺激的作用，以及以哌甲酯（methylphenidate）治疗注意缺陷多动障碍（attention deficit hyperactivity disorder）。整体而言，多数相关因素对听觉处理过程具有负面影响；本研究着重强调该障碍与以下病症或状态的关联：阅读障碍（dyslexia）、学习困难、特定语言障碍（specific language impairment）、社会经济地位低下、注意缺陷多动障碍、早产、语音障碍、视觉损伤、口呼吸、口吃、中耳炎（otitis media）、唇腭裂（cleft lip and palate）、贫血、金属汞暴露、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome）、脑血管意外（cerebrovascular accident, CVA）、社会弱势儿童群体以及发音障碍儿童。听觉处理过程对环境与化学因素、社会经济地位、语言及听觉、神经系统相关障碍所带来的负面影响极为敏感。音乐暴露与哌甲酯的使用，是目前仅有的被证实对听觉处理具有正向影响的因素。