Exploratory research into the effects of exercise, rhythm, and music on Central Auditory Processing Disorder in children. — The Association Specialists
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Exploratory research into the effects of exercise, rhythm, and music on Central Auditory Processing Disorder in children. (21658)

Robyn Choi 1 2 3 , Bonnie Furzer 1 , Christopher Brennan-Jones 2 3 4 , Ben Jackson 1 2 , Greta Edwards 1 , Hadeel Y Tarawneh 1 , Wilhelmina Mulders 1
  1. Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA, Australia
  2. Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA, Australia
  3. School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. Medical School, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA, Australia

Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) refers to difficulties in the perceptual processing of auditory information in the central auditory nervous system. CAPD affects 3 to 7% of children in the general population and 9 to 15% of children in Aboriginal populations. CAPD can lead to social, emotional, mental health and academic problems, that can persist into adulthood. There are currently limited effective treatment options for CAPD and associated mental, social and academic development. Of options that do exist, many are costly, complex and do not treat co-occurring challenges, resulting in CAPD being left untreated. This study aimed to investigate whether a novel treatment using auditory cued exercise therapy (ACET) could improve auditory processing abilities in children with CAPD. ACET uses a custom designed rhythmic movement (exercise) to music to promote specific brain circuitry development, which could improve the auditory processing ability of a child while also addressing other co-morbidities such as mental health. Movement with music has been shown to improve communication, emotional regulation and temporal processing needed to understand speech and environmental sounds. Auditory-motor training has been shown to improve phonological skills important for reading and cognitive functions such as attention and memory. Exercise more generally has been shown to positively influence the brain and physical and mental health. ACET as CAPD treatment can engage children in a positive environment with benefits for physical and mental health. Preliminary analyses indicate that children show improvements in binaural integration, auditory closure and auditory word memory after attending an 8-week ACET program.