Assessing the Interplay Between Basic Auditory Processing and Cognitive Abilities Across Development.

Purpose: This study examined maturational differences in basic auditory processing between children and young adults using the Portable Automated Rapid Testing (PART) battery. A secondary aim was to assess whether auditory processing performance was associated with cognitive abilities across development. Method: Children aged 8-13 years (n = 36) and young adults aged 18-25 years (n = 37) completed a battery of PART subtests measuring temporal fine structure (TFS), spectrotemporal sensitivity (STS), and spatial release from masking (SRM). Participants also completed six subtests from the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Group differences in auditory and cognitive performance were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Principal components analysis was used to derive a unified index of auditory proficiency, and correlations with cognitive measures were assessed. Results: Significant maturational differences were observed in TFS and SRM, with children showing elevated thresholds and reduced spatial unmasking compared to adults. No group differences were found in STS. An exploratory subgroup analysis in children (8-10 vs. 11-13 years) revealed significant differences in SRM and STS, suggesting continued development within the pediatric age range. The composite auditory index significantly differentiated children from adults but was largely uncorrelated with cognitive measures in either group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that core auditory processing abilities, particularly those related to fine temporal cues and spatial hearing, continue to mature into adolescence. Exploratory analyses further highlight developmental changes even within the 8-13 years age range. When assessed using basic auditory processing tasks such as those in the PART battery, auditory performance showed limited association with cognitive abilities. This has important clinical implications, as it supports the use of developmentally appropriate, low-burden tools such PART in pediatric auditory processing evaluations. Ongoing efforts to establish normative data across narrower age bands will further enhance its clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]