What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory processing disorder is a hearing disorder where the hearing centres and circuits of the brain don’t correctly process incoming information (APD Seminar Video – SoundSkills, 2021). It is also referred to as central auditory processing disorder or CAPD.
Children affected by this illness find it challenging to understand the spoken word.
It makes listening extremely challenging in areas where there are distracting sounds or when listening to complex information or instructions (APD Seminar Video – SoundSkills, 2021).
Around one in 20 people suffer from auditory processing disorder.
Signs of Auditory Processing Disorder:
- Difficulty following spoken directions
- difficulty paying attention to and remembering spoken information
- Processing time for spoken instructions seems slower
- easily overwhelmed by complex or busy auditory environments
- sensitivity to loud noises
- poor listening
- Phonological and phonemic awareness is slow to develop
- difficulty with reading/spelling
- Frustration
- anxiety
- low self-esteem
- difficulty with friendships
- difficulty with behaviour
- exhaustion after school
Co-Occurs with the following conditions:
Auditory processing disorder frequently occurs in conjunction with
- dyslexia
- autism
- developmental language disorders.
- neurological disorders
- history of persistent or frequent middle ear disease “glue ear”
- language disorder or delay
It also sometimes occurs with ADHD and ADHD.
The Effects of Auditory Processing Disorder:
- misunderstanding what is said
- missing parts of speech when it is fast or complexly worded
- hearing when there is background noise
- difficulty understanding the nuance of speech e.g changes in pitch, emphasis or indication of emotion or humour
- extra effort required by children and adults with APD leaves them feeling exhausted at the end of school or work days (APD Seminar Video – SoundSkills, 2021)
Treatment of APD
- Learning to rapidly and correctly identify all sounds that make up language no matter the voice
- Auditory training to correct hearing weakness e.g. if there is a one-sided hearing weakness
- fitted assistive technology to assist hearing e.g. a cochlear implant or an RMHA (remote microphone hearing aid)
- Language therapy for phonological awareness
It can take 2 – 3 years of therapy and education interventions to see the outcomes improve.
Support in school
- slow down the pace at which you talk
- ensure that the child listens to instructions in quiet and distraction-free environments
- make instructions rewindable and have a written alternative that they can check in on
- Repeat instructions. as much as is necessary
- give frequent breaks from listening
- provide pleasurable listening experiences
- listening to music for enjoyment has shown positive benefits for those with APD
- support the child to listen to audiobooks that they find enjoyable
- use the audiobook settings to slow down the rate of speech
- check-in that the instructions have been understood
- create distraction-free environment
- give separate accommodations for exams or assessments
Resources:
Download the following school support flyer to give to your child’s kaiako (teacher): Download Link
Sound Skills offers:
- free checklists and information sheets on APD: https://soundskills.co.nz/materials/
- free webinars about APD and how to support your child: https://soundskills.co.nz/materials/apd-seminar-video/
Assessment:
Contact the following providers in Tāmaki Makaurau to obtain an assessment for APD:
- Sounds Skills, Greenlane – https://soundskills.co.nz/referral-form/
- cost: $1210 for the initial assessment (2.5 – 3 hours in length)
- Dilworth Hearing, Epsom/Newmarket – https://dilworth.co.nz/auditory-processing-disorder/
- Initial hearing assessment:
- 5- 10 year olds: $170
- 11 year olds: $120
- Once the initial assessment is completed they will determine if an APD assessment is required:
- cost: $550
- Initial hearing assessment:
- Family Hearing Centre, Greenlane – https://www.familyhearing.co.nz/auditory-processing-assessments
- Auditory processing assessment: cost: $600
This page was made with reference to:
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). (n.d.). New Zealand Audiological Society. https://audiology.org.nz/for-the-public/other-hearing-conditions/auditory-processing-disorder-apd/
Auditory Processing Disorder. (n.d.). Bayaudiogy. https://www.bayaudiology.co.nz/diseases-and-symptoms/auditory-processing-disorder
APD seminar video – SoundSkills. (2021, March 4). SoundSkills. https://soundskills.co.nz/materials/apd-seminar-video/
Georgi de Stigter 