Auditory processing in infancy: do early abnormalities predict disorders of language and cognitive development?

Increasing attention has been devoted to the maturation of sensory processing in the first year of life. While the development of cortical visual function has been thoroughly studied, much less information is available on auditory processing and its early disorders. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the assessment techniques for early auditory processing. While otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses are well-established tools for neonatal screening of hearing loss, there have been less consistent results for neurophysiological assessments of central auditory processing in clinical practice. Early auditory event-related potentials could provide valuable diagnostic information, but their use as a possible clinical screening method is still limited and should be further assessed. Behavioural tests are few and are greatly needed in young infants as they could provide a more easily used tool for detecting the preconditions of early cerebral auditory impairment.