Auditory verbal learning in children with suspected auditory processing deficits

As unanimously found in several consensus papers, other conditions such as learning disorders need to be ruled out prior to labelling a child as having an auditory processing disorder (APD). In a retrospective study data from 386 children (245 boys, 141 girls) aged 6;0-9;11 years were investigated. All children were referred for behavioural problems suspected to be due to APD. The German auditory verbal learning test (Verbaler Lern- und Merkfahigkeitstest, VLMT) was administered. Results in a range of more than one/two standard deviations from the mean were regarded as deviant/pathological, while a test result under 15.8 was considered below normal. The VLMT short term component was impaired in 202 children, the long term component (loss after interference) in 83 children and the recognition component in 298 children. Compared with previously published results, our results suggest that approximately half of all children referred for APD diagnosis suffer from short-term memory deficit. We suggest the VLMT, and thus testing of short- and long-term memory skills, be administered routinely for thorough APD assessments.