Auditory Processing Deficits Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Authors: Julianna Koch, Reethee Antony

Field of Study: Speech and Language Pathology

Program Affiliation: Brain and Swallowing Lab

Faculty Mentors: Reethee Antony

Easel: 16

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sport-related concussion are highly prevalent neurological injuries, particularly among individuals participating in contact sports, and their consequences may extend beyond the acute recovery period. Although many individuals recover from initial symptoms within weeks, growing evidence suggests that mTBI is associated with persistent functional difficulties that are not always captured by standard clinical assessments. Auditory processing is a commonly reported area of difficulty following mTBI, even in individuals with clinically normal hearing thresholds. Specifically in individuals with mTBI, speech-in-noise processing can be more difficult, thereby negatively affecting academic performance, workplace communication, and social participation, yet they remain under recognized in post-concussion care. Behavioral and neurophysiological studies increasingly demonstrate that these listening challenges reflect disruption of central auditory processing rather than peripheral hearing loss. This is a review of existing literature related to auditory processing and mTBI focusing on sports related changes to auditory processing.