Prevalence of Central Auditory Disorders in Primary School-aged Children
https://doi.org/10.15690/pf.v22i5.2959
Abstract
Background. Information about the epidemiology of central auditory disorders (CADs) is contradictory and variable. The epidemiology of CADs in Russia is poorly studied. The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of CADs among primary school children. Methods. Screening was carried out among younger students of a general education school (students of grades 1–4). Suspicion of the presence of CADs was recorded using the Fisher questionnaire. When deviations were detected, audiological testing of the peripheral part of the auditory analyzer and psychoacoustic testing of the central auditory processing were carried out. Results. The Fisher questionnaire was completed by 222 students. Abnormalities were detected in 65 (29.3%) children, and audiological testing was performed on 56 children. Pathology of the peripheral auditory analyzer was identified in 11 (20%) children. Psychoacoustic testing of the central auditory system was performed on 45 children, and 32 (71.1%) children were found to have significant CADs. These children differed from those who did not have CADs in that they had lower monaural speech intelligibility in noise on both the right and left (p < 0,001) and lower standard dichotic number test scores (p = 0,029). Twelve (26.7%) children showed signs of CADs (borderline group), and one child (2.2%) did not show CADs. Conclusion. The results indicate a high prevalence of CADs among primary school-aged children, which highlights the importance of supplementing audiological screening programs for schoolchildren with methods that can detect signs of both peripheral and central disorders.
Supporting agencies: Not specified.
About the Authors
Irina E. Grebenuk
Saint-Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech; Institute of Hearing and Speech; Medical Center Network “MasterSlukh”
Russian Federation
Disclosure of interest:
Russian Federation
Irina E. Grebenuk, MD, PhD
9, Bronnitskaya Str., St. Petersburg, 190013
Moscow
Disclosure of interest:
Not declared
Ekaterina S. Garbaruk
Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University; Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University
Russian Federation
Disclosure of interest:
Russian Federation
Ekaterina S. Garbaruk, PhD
Saint-Petersburg
Disclosure of interest:
Not declared
Maria Yu. Boboshko
Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University
Russian Federation
Disclosure of interest:
Russian Federation
Mariya Yu. Boboshko, MD, PhD, Professor
Saint-Petersburg
Disclosure of interest:
Not declared
Gaziz Sh. Tufatulin
Saint-Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech; Children’s City Surdology Center; I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Russian Federation
Disclosure of interest:
Russian Federation
Gaziz Sh. Tufatulin, MD, PhD
Saint-Petersburg
Moscow
Disclosure of interest:
Not declared
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Review
For citations:
Grebenuk I.E., Garbaruk E.S., Boboshko M.Yu., Tufatulin G.Sh. Prevalence of Central Auditory Disorders in Primary School-aged Children. Pediatric pharmacology. 2025;22(5):538-543. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15690/pf.v22i5.2959
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