A Mini Review on Differential Overview of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The overlapping medical characteristics of CAPD and ADHD pose a challenge towards performing the differential diagnosis of ADHD and CAPD. The problems associated with the regulation of behaviour are the most common complaints concerning ADHD over inattention problems. In contrary, in CAPD, deficits of the auditory perceptual problems are a major concern. The approaches towards the management of CAPD and ADHD differ on the basis of the primary disorder. The implementation of selective clinical diagnosis may help plan a better management of these disorders. As per the neuromorphological evidences, the dysfunction in auditory processing is common to both CAPD and ADHD. This forms a basis for specifically assessing the complete functioning of the auditory system. Since the problems of perception, linguistic and cognition coexist in these two disorders, hence there is a need to implement a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of audiologists, teachers, psychologists and physicians for the assessment and defining the therapeutic intervention.
Owing to poor attention which characterizes both the disorders, the differential diagnosis of the clinical condition becomes cumbersome. Further, ongoing research towards redefining ADHD as
a behavioural disorder rather than an attention deficit disorder, has helped identify a way to differentiate between ADHD and CAPD. Deficits in rule governed behaviour lead to problems in
executive functioning and self-regulation.17 ADHD thus encompassed characteristic features such as poor social skills, language difficulties and poor self-control. Thus, ADHD can be more effectively addressed as a motivational deficit rather than a condition of attention deficit.
Otolaryngol Open J. 2017; SE(1): S20-S23.doi: 10.17140/OTLOJ-SE-1-105
