The Prevalence of Auditory Processing Disorders in Persian-speaking Children

Objectives: Auditory processing disorder (APD) is an auditory perception impairment causing problems in a child’s learning ability and communication skills. Therefore, the identification of this disorder in children is a priority. The prevalence of this disorder in children in Persian-speaking societies has not yet been widely explored. This project aims to evaluate APD among students in Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: A total of 605 school-aged children (323 girls and 282 boys) were selected from 15 primary schools in Isfahan City. Multiple auditory processing assessment (MAPA) tests were performed. Results: A total of 5.57% of girls and 10.63% of boys were suspected to APD. The APD prevalence was 7.93%. The male-to-female ratio was 1.9 times. Discussion: The prevalence reported in this study is consistent with global values. Screening for this disorder is vital to reduce adverse effect.