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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NCJournal of audiology & otology

Auditory Spatial Processing Disorder: Diagnosis and Rehabilitation-A Narrative Review.

  • Mohammad Hassan Azizi1,2
  • Nasrin Gohari2,3
  • Zahra Hosseini Dastgerdi4
  • Nematollah Rouhbakhsh1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2Hearing Disorders Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  3. 3Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  4. 4Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Abstract

Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is characterized by difficulty processing auditory information despite normal hearing thresholds. Spatial processing disorder (SPD), a subtype of CAPD, impairs auditory stream segregation and can significantly affect daily functioning, particularly in children with a history of ear infections. This narrative review aimed to assess recent literature on the diagnosis and rehabilitation of SPD, highlighting the importance of timely evaluation and intervention. SPD diagnosis requires the integration of spatial processing tests into standard CAPD test batteries. Validated questionnaires, such as the 12-item Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale and the Shortened version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire, can streamline screening for SPD. Both free- and headphone-based tests, including the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences (LiSN-S) test, are effective for evaluating spatial auditory processing. Free-field tests are useful for evaluation of hearing-aid users, whereas headphone-based tests, such as the LiSN-S may be more suitable for routine clinical use. Rehabilitation programs, such as LiSN & Learn, have demonstrated significant improvements in binaural processing abilities and speech understanding in noise. Future research should prioritize the multilingual adaptation of diagnostic tools and large-scale clinical trials to validate their effectiveness across diverse populations.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{azizi2026auditory,
  title = {{Auditory Spatial Processing Disorder: Diagnosis and Rehabilitation-A Narrative Review.}},
  author = {Mohammad Hassan Azizi and Nasrin Gohari and Zahra Hosseini Dastgerdi and Nematollah Rouhbakhsh},
  journal = {Journal of audiology \& otology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.7874/jao.2025.00367},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958769},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Auditory Spatial Processing Disorder: Diagnosis and Rehabilitation-A Narrative Review.
AU  - Mohammad Hassan Azizi
AU  - Nasrin Gohari
AU  - Zahra Hosseini Dastgerdi
AU  - Nematollah Rouhbakhsh
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Journal of audiology & otology
DO  - 10.7874/jao.2025.00367
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958769
AB  - Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is characterized by difficulty processing auditory information despite normal hearing thresholds. Spatial processing disorder (SPD), a subtype of CAPD, impairs auditory stream segregation and can significantly affect daily functioning, particularly in children with a history of ear infections. This narrative review aimed to assess recent literature on the diagnosis and rehabilitation of SPD, highlighting the importance of timely evaluation and intervention. SPD diagnosis requires the integration of spatial processing tests into standard CAPD test batteries. Validated questionnaires, such as the 12-item Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale and the Shortened version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire, can streamline screening for SPD. Both free- and headphone-based tests, including the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences (LiSN-S) test, are effective for evaluating spatial auditory processing. Free-field tests are useful for evaluation of hearing-aid users, whereas headphone-based tests, such as the LiSN-S may be more suitable for routine clinical use. Rehabilitation programs, such as LiSN & Learn, have demonstrated significant improvements in binaural processing abilities and speech understanding in noise. Future research should prioritize the multilingual adaptation of diagnostic tools and large-scale clinical trials to validate their effectiveness across diverse populations.
SN  - 2384-1621
SN  - 2384-1710
ER  -