title: The use of listening devices to ameliorate auditory deficit in children with autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate both monaural and binaural processing skills in a group of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to determine the degree to which personal frequency modulation (radio transmission) (FM) listening systems could ameliorate their listening difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Auditory temporal processing (amplitude modulation detection), spatial listening (integration of binaural difference cues), and functional hearing (speech perception in background noise) were evaluated in 20 children with ASD. Ten of these subsequently underwent a 6-week device trial in which they wore the FM system for up to 7 hours per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Auditory temporal processing and spatial listening ability were poorer in subjects with ASD than in matched controls (temporal: P = .014 [95% CI -6.4 to -0.8 dB], spatial: P = .003 [1.0 to 4.4 dB]), and performance on both of these basic processing measures was correlated with speech perception ability (temporal: r = -0.44, P = .022; spatial: r = -0.50, P = .015). The provision of FM listening systems resulted in improved discrimination of speech in noise (P < .001 [11.6% to 21.7%]). Furthermore, both participant and teacher questionnaire data revealed device-related benefits across a range of evaluation categories including Effect of Background Noise (P = .036 [-60.7% to -2.8%]) and Ease of Communication (P = .019 [-40.1% to -5.0%]). Eight of the 10 participants who undertook the 6-week device trial remained consistent FM users at study completion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sustained use of FM listening devices can enhance speech perception in noise, aid social interaction, and improve educational outcomes in children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: grance@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rance
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carew
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, School of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: APHAB; ASD; Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit; Autism spectrum disorder; FM; Frequency modulation (radio transmission)