Dear Shelly,
Regarding your questions about CAPD evaluation, yes, from what you
describe it would be worthwhile to get a CAP evaluation for your son.
However, please note that most audiologists will state that you can not
get a CAP eval. for a child so young.
For me, this is not true. An audiologist who really understands auditory
processing and perception would be able to provide an audiological
evaluation including evaluation of processing abilites appropriate at the
age level of 3-1/2 for your son.
Now as for ABR. yes, the Midlatency and late potentials (P-300, 400msec.
latency responses) have been applied to the evaluation of auditory
processing/perceptual abilites. However, these evaluations may not be
able to be accomplished on a child of 3-1/2 years because of:
1. the normal brainwave (evoked) responses which are obtainable via
midlatency and late latency responses are not "normed" for that young age
group, or these responses can not be accurately, and reliably evoked for a
chid of such young age.
2. Remember that all that one obtains from evoked brainstem response
testing is information about whether the auditory tracks are functioning
normally. There is no information one obtains about how this affects
behavior (If it affects behavior), and in what way any abnormal evoked
responses determine how to "treat" the child to improve behavior.
It appears to me that you want to know about your son's behavior
(listening and language), and why there may be a delay or breakdown in his
commnicative abilities. you need a good behavioral evaluation of his
listening and auditory abilties.
I do not know if anyone in your area (not sure exactly where you are) is
doing CAP evaluation for preschoolers looking at behaviors and information
processing.
Wish I could be of more help. If you'd like more help, please feel free
to private email me at my email address below. Otherwise, you may find
more support and help on the CAPD listserv which is specific to this area.
to subscribe to the CAPD listserv:
email......
listserv at sjuvm.stjohns.edu
message.....
subscribe CAPD <name>
substitute your real name for <name>
dr.j!
(list owner of CAPD)
<dr.j at rdz.stjohns.edu>
On Sat, 7 Dec 1996, kenneth bodkin wrote:
> Shelly Bower wrote:
> >
> > I am hoping for some suggestions from you all
> >
> > I have a son (age 3.5) that has a severe expressive/receptive
> > communication disorder. As a brief history, when he turned two we
> > took him to an audiologist because his speech was delayed and because
> > he had very uneven reactions to sound. For example, a new soft noise
> > behind him would cause him to turn around but a fire alarm going off
> > wouldn't produce even a startle reaction. Anyway, based on a
> > hearing exam the audiologist said he had at least a 40% hearing loss
> > but given his age and the difficulties in doing the exam they sent us
> > off to get a BAER test done. The brainstem response test showed
> > normal hearing.
> >
> > He is now 3.5 and his language has come a long way but its obvious at
> > this point that auditory processing problems are hindering further
> > gains. He can't differentiate between sentences like "How are you?"
> > and "How old are you?". I know he knows his colors cold, but if
> > asked out of the blue "what color is it?, he often can't answer , I
> > don't think he can "decifer" the question. If I give the answer once
> > and keep asking the same question about different objects in the room
> > he'll get them all right...Is this making sense? His pediatrician has
> > ruled out auditory processing delays because he can echo words or
> > answer questions he knows immediately. However, I still feel there is
> > a definitely something going on with the auditory process.
> >
> > Here are the questions I have, answers to any of them would be greatly
> > appreciated?
> >
> > Can an auditory processing deficit be diagnosed from a test that
> > doesn't rely on the patient having language or being able to respond
> > to questions? Are there any other tests that I should consider having
> > done?
> >
> > I've heard about a Doctor named Gerry Stefanatos (at Jefferson
> > Hospital ?) that does something called an Evoked Potentials Test.
> > Does anyone know what this is? Supposedly the BAER measyres fom the
> > ear to the brainstem and this test measures from the brainstenm to the
> > brain?
> >
> > Has anyone heard the term "hearing dyslexic" and what is it? Are there
> > treatments for it.
> >
> > Assuming I can get a diagnosis of auditory processing deficit....how
> > does it help? Are there treatments (drug or otherwise)? Other than
> > speech therapy, no one seems to have any ideas or even much of a
> > prognosis.
> >
> > Has anyone researched the idea that smart drugs (like Piracetam) can
> > improve auditory processing. Are these drugs safe with kids?
> >
> > I'm dying to help my little guy and can't shake the feeling that if I
> > could improve his auditory processing that his language learning
> > diffculties would be reduced. Any ideas? Web sites? New research?
> >
> > Shelly
>> Shelly,
>> Yes, there are evoked potential evaluations which can aid in the
> assessment of central auditory processing disorders (CAPD). The Middle
> Latency Response (MLR) is currently receiving a great amount of
> attention for diagnosing CAPD. Another type of evoked potential which
> may be used is the P300, which is a late potential.
>> Ken
>kbodkin at qed.net>
