On the Clinical Entity in Audiology: (Central) Auditory Processing and Speech Recognition in Noise Disorders

Background: The area of (central) auditory processing disorder [(C)APD] is highly controversial. This controversy is fueled in part by multiple ambiguous descriptions of this condition. The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and the American Academy of Audiology state that (C)APD is a clinical entity, but other sources say that this is questionable. The clinical entity is a concept used to define the nature of a disorder in order to facilitate diagnosis and intervention. Nosography is the study of the systematic description of diseases and disorders. The work in the field of nosography by physicians Thomas Sydenham and Otto Guttentag is reviewed. Purpose: The Sydenham-Guttentag criteria for the clinical entity are presented as a framework for the conceptualization of disorders in the field of audiology. This paper discusses central auditory processing and speech recognition-in-noise disorders in reference to these criteria.