title: Relation between Working Memory Capacity and Auditory Stream Segregation in Children with Auditory Processing Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the relationship between working memory capacity and auditory stream segregation by using the concurrent minimum audible angle in children with a diagnosed auditory processing disorder (APD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants in this cross-sectional, comparative study were 20 typically developing children and 15 children with a diagnosed APD (age, 9-11 years) according to the subtests of multiple-processing auditory assessment. Auditory stream segregation was investigated using the concurrent minimum audible angle. Working memory capacity was evaluated using the non-word repetition and forward and backward digit span tasks. Nonparametric statistics were utilized to compare the between-group differences. The Pearson correlation was employed to measure the degree of association between working memory capacity and the localization tests between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group with APD had significantly lower scores than did the typically developing subjects in auditory stream segregation and working memory capacity. There were significant negative correlations between working memory capacity and the concurrent minimum audible angle in the most frontal reference location (0° azimuth) and lower negative correlations in the most lateral reference location (60° azimuth) in the children with APD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed a relationship between working memory capacity and auditory stream segregation in children with APD. The research suggests that lower working memory capacity in children with APD may be the possible cause of the inability to segregate and group incoming information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Yones
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lotfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saiedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrkian
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moossavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soghrat Faghih
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadjedi
keywords: Auditory perceptual disorders; Auditory scene analysis; Child; Short-term memory; Stream segregation