What is the Nature of Auditory Processing Sequelae Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adults?

Objective: This project explored the following questions: 1) In normal-hearing and near-normal-hearing adults, what is the evidence for auditory processing deficits following mTBI? and 2) If auditory processing deficits are common following mTBI, what are the auditory skills affected and how are they measured? Methods: Studies for this scoping review were identified using SCOPUS, PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were identified. Summaries of the resulting articles were used to provide an understanding of the prior research and findings regarding mTBI and auditory processing disorders in adult patients. Results: The mTBI adults were heterogeneous in terms of hearing thresholds, cause of mTBI, number of mTBIs, and length of time since last mTBI. As a group, they had difficulty on several speech-in-noise tests, a dichotic listening test (i.e., Staggered Spondaic Words test) and a temporal resolution test (i.e., Gaps-in-Noise). Conclusions: It is difficult to know whether the listening deficits result from central auditory mechanisms, peripheral hearing loss, cognitive factors or a combination of these factors. Thus, a team approach which includes an audiologist, speech-language pathologist and/or psychologist should be used to assess and develop a plan specific to the needs of the individual with mTBI