trying flatten an complex XML string into a single table record

In convertig an XML string to an PHP object using simplexml_load_string(), I am faced with cases where a value may be an object or an array.

$myObject=simplexml_load_string($data);        

In order to access this data It seems I will have to test existence of either object or array, then try to get object or iterate through array. Is their a more efficient way? Ultimately I am trying flatten an complex XML string into a single table record. (Note: this last statement is non-negotiable)

below is case where PackageReferenceNumber is sometimes an object value and sometimes an array value.

[0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
    [PackageReferenceNumber] => Array
        (
            [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                (
                    [Number] => 1
                    [Value] => IM25711111
                )

            [1] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                (
                    [Number] => 2
                    [Value] => 4062742222
                )

        )



[24] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
    [PackageReferenceNumber] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [Number] => 1
            [Value] => IM25728877
        )