The prevalence and developmental course of auditory processing differences in autistic children.

This study followed autistic children from ages 3 to 9 to understand hearing sensitivities. Over 70% of children had trouble with sounds (being too sensitive or having difficulty in noisy places) at all ages tested. Children with hearing sensitivities showed more challenging behaviors and had more trouble with daily life skills. The study found that hearing problems at age 3 predicted ongoing difficulties at age 9, suggesting these challenges persist as children grow.

This longitudinal study examined auditory processing differences in autistic children at ages 3, 6, and 9 years using caregiver questionnaires. The research investigated prevalence, developmental patterns, and functional impacts of auditory sensitivities, including hyper/hyposensitivity to sound and difficulty processing sounds in noisy environments. Results showed that over 70% of autistic children experienced auditory processing differences at all three time points, with high prevalence maintained throughout childhood. These differences were significantly associated with increased disruptive behaviors and difficulties with adaptive functioning.

Importantly, auditory processing differences at age 3 predicted behavioral and adaptive challenges at age 9, suggesting lasting impacts. The findings support incorporating auditory processing assessments into routine clinical evaluations and developing targeted interventions for autistic children.

Supports routine screening for auditory processing differences in young autistic children. Early identification at age 3 may help predict later challenges. Findings suggest need for targeted interventions addressing auditory sensitivities to potentially improve behavioral outcomes and adaptive functioning.

Sample size not reported, limiting assessment of study power. Relied solely on caregiver questionnaires rather than objective auditory assessments. Study type not specified, unclear if this was a prospective cohort design. Long-term outcomes beyond age 9 unknown.

Auditory processing differences, including hyper- or hyposensitivity to sound, aversions to sound, and difficulty listening under noisy, real-world conditions, are commonly reported in autistic individuals. However, the developmental course and functional impact of these auditory processing differences are unclear. In this study, we investigate the prevalence, developmental trajectory, and functional impact of auditory processing differences in autistic children throughout childhood using a longitudinal study design. Auditory processing differences were measured using the Short Sensory Profile, a caregiver questionnaire, in addition to adaptive behaviors and disruptive/concerning behaviors at 3, 6, and 9 years of age.

Our results showed that auditory processing differences were reported in greater than 70% of the autistic children in our sample at all three timepoints, maintained a high prevalence through 9 years of age, and were associated with increased disruptive/concerning behaviors and difficulty with adaptive behaviors. Furthermore, in our sample of children, auditory processing differences at age 3 years predicted disruptive/concerning behaviors and difficulty with adaptive behaviors at age 9 years. These findings warrant further investigations of the potential benefit of incorporating measures of auditory processing during routine clinical evaluations as well as interventions targeting auditory processing differences in autistic children.