THE AUDITORY PROCESSING DOMAINS QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE AUDITORY BEHAVIOR SCALE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

Objective: To analyze everyday auditory skills perceived by parents or caregivers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 1 and neurotypical individuals, using the Auditory Behavior Scale (SAB) and the Auditory Processing Domains Questionnaire (APDQ). Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted at EPM-UNIFESP. A total of 93 individuals (aged 7 to 17 years) participated, divided into the ASD Group (ASDG) and the Neurotypical Group (NG). The SAB and APDQ questionnaires were applied to the caregivers, and central auditory processing (CAP) assessments were performed. Results: The analysis of the SAB scores between the groups revealed a median of 53 points for the NG and 32 points for the ASDG, with a significant difference (p<0.001) and a medium effect size (r=0.74), indicating a considerable difference in auditory behavior between the groups. The APDQ instrument revealed statistically significant differences between the attention (r=0.68), language (r=0.71), central auditory processing (r=0.73), and total score (r=0.73) domains between the groups, with p<0.001. The NG obtained higher mean and median scores on all items compared to the ASDG, with effect sizes considered medium. In the central auditory processing domain, the NG had nearly double the median score compared to the ASDG. Conclusion: The APDQ and SAB questionnaires were effective in the early identification of auditory, attention, and language difficulties, making them valuable tools in clinical and educational contexts. The combined use of the APDQ and SAB can assist in screening for CAP disorders, facilitating appropriate clinical referrals for children and adolescents with ASD Level 1.