Identification of Hereditary Auditory Temporal Processing Deficits

Objective Recent research implicates auditory processing deficits in the etiology of language impairments, but no standard methodology has been employed to determine whether auditory processing deficits are heritable traits. We will investigate whether auditory processing skills and auditory processing disorders (APDs) are hereditary. Study Population We will study same-sex twins (healthy volunteers) and individuals who score in the top or bottom 10th percentile on auditory processing tests and their first-degree family members. Design: A Two-Phase, Staged Study Our approach uses the two classical methods of demonstrating heritability: comparison of monozygotic (MZ) to dizygotic (DZ) concordance rates in twins and measuring familial aggregation of a trait. While there are a variety of auditory processing tests in common use, there is no standard battery of tests for the diagnosis of APD. Moreover, the normal variation in performance on many of these tests is not known. We will systematically evaluate tests of auditory processing for variation in the general population and for evidence of heritability. Phase 1 Twin study We will evaluate a variety of auditory processing tests in MZ and same-sex DZ twins. This initial phase of the study is designed to provide data so that the performance of MZ twin pairs can be compared to the performance of DZ twin pairs. Statistical modeling will be used to estimate the relative contributions of heredity and environment to auditory processing skills. In addition, we will examine variation in auditory processing skills in the general population of twins. This will allow us to identify auditory processing skills and tests that have the greatest heritable components, and to establish normative data for the tests we administer. Phase 2 Family aggregation study Based on the outcomes of Phase 1, auditory processing tests of skills with the highest heritable component will be selected for evaluation of probands. Those who score in the top and bottom 10th percentile will be eligible for participation as probands in this phase of the study. Variation of these skills in the general population, as determined by the twin data (Phase 1) or published norms, when they are available, will be used to determine the top and bottom 10th percentiles. This same test set will be administered to probands and at least two first-degree relatives allowing us to determine whether traits related to auditory processing occur within the family at a rate greater than chance. Outcome Measures Phase 1 outcome measures will be individual performance on tests of auditory processing skills and comparative performance of MZ and DZ co-twin pairs on these tests. Phase II outcome measures will be the performance on auditory processing measures of probands and their family members, and affectance rates observed in these families.<TAB>