Howard Moskowitz, MD, PhD, Director of the Hutchinson/Weiler Division and Associate Professor of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery, has recently been awarded a $60 thousand grant, funded by Autism Speaks with support from Royal Arch Research Assistance, to lead a pilot research study exploring why children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have hearing problems and how they may be linked to central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). The study will assess the feasibility of a novel approach intended to be used in a larger study. 

Dr. Moskowitz and his research team will administer a comprehensive CAPD test battery and use electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity and a variety of listening tasks to determine if central auditory processing of children with ASD who also have CAPD is impaired for processing speech and other complex non-speech sounds. Researchers may also be able to discover how common CAPD is in children with ASD and how attention affects their ability to hear sounds. The goal is to improve communication ability by targeting specific central auditory functions. By determining what parts of the brain are involved and how they work, this enhanced understanding will hopefully lead to developing new diagnostic procedures and intervention strategies targeted at CAPD-specific deficits in children with ASD to improve overall outcomes. 

CAPD is a condition that primarily affects the central auditory nervous system (neural pathways within the brain), impacting how the brain processes the information an individual is hearing. It remains poorly understood and can be seen in children with hearing problems, which may lead to communication and other difficulties. Many individuals with ASD have sensory processing disorders and it is not clear to what degree central auditory processes are impaired. 

Our leadership in advancing research at the intersection of auditory processing disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders underscores our commitment to innovation in otorhinolaryngology and improving outcomes and quality of life for children with ASD and their families. This study has the potential to redefine how clinicians diagnose and treat hearing problems, such as auditory processing disorders, in children with ASD, paving the way for groundbreaking interventions that could shape the future of the field.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research on the causes, prevention, treatments and cure of autism, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

About Royal Arch Research Assistance

Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A.) supports research seeking the understanding of and a cure for central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). To learn more about Royal Arch Research Assistance, please visit https://givetorara.org.