Auditory processing factors in language disorders: the view from Procrustes' bed.

Abstract

A failure in auditory processing is often cited as a major or contributing cause of language and learning disorders in children and adults, including defective articulation, aphasia, dyslexia, and specific learning disability. The claim persists in spite of the relatively limited and weak evidence for such a factor and the inconsistency of this conclusion with current findings in speech perception research. The implications for traditional educational, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures involving basic auditory skills such as speech-sound discrimination are discussed.