Backround: Auditory processing difficulties are frequently reported among children who stutter.
Objective: This work aims to examine auditory processing abilities in children who stutter, before and after speech therapy, in order to assess the possibility of any improvement of their auditory processing after speech therapy.
Patients and Methods: Auditory processing abilities of 60 children, who stutter, in the age range of 8 – 14 years, have been examined before and after speech therapy, by fluency shaping program for three months. The performed tests included; Dichotic Digit Test (DDT), Pitch Pattern Sequence Test (PPST), Speech In Noise Test (children version) (SPIN), Gap In Noise Test (GIN) in addition to Speech-Auditory Brain Stem Response (s-ABR).
Results: Impaired auditory processing abilities as noticed in temporal ordering (PPST) and resolution (GIN), and auditory closure (SPIN), together with lack of / or reversed laterality (DDT). After submission to speech therapy, significant shift of laterality had been achieved (DDT) (P value: 0.004) with tendency to improvement of other abilities except PPST. Results of sABR showed impaired onset (waves V&A), offset (wave O), and transition response (wave C) with non-significant left ear preference (reversed laterality). Reevaluation after speech therapy revealed improvement in the amplitude of the offset (wave O) and transition response (wave C) with non significant tendency to right ear preference (restoration of laterality).
Conclusion: Enhancement of auditory processing abilities of children who stutter can be achieved by speech therapy.