Learning disabilities and central auditory dysfunction.

Hearing loss, whether peripheral or central, compounds the communication and educational problems of the learning disabled student. A central auditory processing disorder uniquely interferes with both the input and integration of verbal information, further resulting in a potentially permanent cognitive dysfunction during the developmental period of acquisition of language. Illustrative cases are presented that indicate the panorama of cognitive dysfunction associated with the learning disabled status. Methods of evaluation and identification and diagnostic criteria are correlated with auditory, visual, and academic performance. Comments regarding clinical awareness, prompt recognition, and ensuing individualized remediation are submitted.