Auditory Processing Disorder – What Is It and How Can You Help Your Child?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain processes and interprets sound. It occurs when the brain has difficulty processing and understanding what is heard, even when the sound itself is clear and loud enough. Those with APD may have difficulty comprehending and responding to verbal instructions, as well as difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. If you suspect your child may have Auditory Processing Disorder, it is important to understand more about the condition and how you can help.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a neurological disorder that affects how the brain processes sound. It’s sometimes referred to as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) or auditory processing impairment (API). People with APD often have difficulty understanding what they hear, even though their ears and hearing are normal. This can cause them to have trouble following instructions, understanding conversations, and learning in the classroom.

APD is distinct from other forms of hearing loss, such as conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. It also differs from autism spectrum disorder, as APD involves difficulties interpreting sound and responding appropriately, while autism typically involves difficulties in social interactions, communication, and behavior.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, many people with APD can lead happy and successful lives.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a type of learning disability that affects a person’s ability to process and interpret auditory information. It can impact a person’s ability to comprehend spoken language and follow directions. It can even affect their ability to recognize environmental sounds, such as a doorbell ringing or an alarm clock going off. People with APD may find it difficult to focus in noisy environments and have difficulty understanding complex instructions.

People with APD can experience a wide range of signs and symptoms, depending on the severity of their disorder. These can include:

• Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments
• Struggling to distinguish subtle differences in sound and pronunciation
• Not responding to verbal instructions
• Poor sound localization and poor sound discrimination
• Difficulty following conversations
• Poor listening skills
• Having difficulty learning new words and/or pronunciations
• Poor reading comprehension
• Trouble with organizing sounds, syllables, words and sentences
• Mishearing and misinterpreting what has been said
• Difficulty recalling sequences of spoken words
• Difficulty with problem solving tasks
• Issues with attention, memory and concentration

Individuals with autism are particularly prone to having APD, due to their difficulty with social communication. However, some people with APD do not have autism. In fact, some people may have APD without any other signs or symptoms of a learning disability.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) can be divided into three categories: Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), Auditory Discrimination Disorder (ADD), and Auditory Integration Disorder (AID).

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a type of APD that affects how the brain processes and interprets sounds. This can include difficulty understanding spoken language, difficulty following directions, difficulty with memory recall and learning new concepts, and poor concentration. Children with CAPD may also experience auditory figure-ground problems, where they have difficulty distinguishing one sound from another in a noisy environment.

Auditory Discrimination Disorder (ADD) is a type of APD that affects how the brain recognizes and discriminates between different sounds. Children with ADD may have difficulty recognizing and distinguishing between similar sounds, or have difficulty hearing certain tones, frequencies, or volume changes.

Auditory Integration Disorder (AID) is a type of APD that affects how the brain organizes and interprets sound patterns. This can include difficulty understanding the meaning of words in context, difficulty following conversations, and difficulty distinguishing between left and right sound localization. Children with AID may also have trouble filtering out background noise or have difficulty processing speech quickly enough to understand it.

No matter which type of APD a child is diagnosed with, it is important to keep in mind that each child is unique and will require individualized treatment plans. With the right help and support, children with APD can learn to manage their symptoms and live a full life.

Auditory Processing Disorder is a complex disorder, and the exact causes are still not known. However, researchers believe that it may be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Genetic Factors: Some research suggests that Auditory Processing Disorder may be caused by an inherited genetic predisposition. It has been suggested that auditory processing deficits can run in families, although more research is needed to confirm this.

Environmental Factors: It is also possible that Auditory Processing Disorder can be caused by environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to loud noise or sustained listening to speech in a noisy environment. It is important to note that APD is not caused by hearing loss or language problems.

The combination of these two factors may make some people more susceptible to developing APD than others. It is important to note that each individual is unique, so it is impossible to pinpoint an exact cause for any given case of APD.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) can be difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can overlap with other conditions. In order to get an accurate diagnosis, it is important to work with a professional who specializes in APD.

Diagnosis of APD typically begins with a hearing test. This test will measure how well the person can hear sounds at different frequencies and volumes. A person with APD may have normal hearing but still have difficulty processing auditory information.

The next step in diagnosing APD may involve the use of questionnaires or interviews that assess the person’s listening skills. Speech-language pathologists may also use tests of auditory memory, attention, and language to determine if there is an auditory processing disorder present.

In some cases, additional tests may be used to look for other conditions that could be causing the APD symptoms. These tests might include brain scans, blood tests, and genetic testing.

Once APD has been diagnosed, the professional will recommend treatments and strategies to help the person cope with their condition. With the right treatment plan, many people with APD can lead successful lives.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a complex disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. As a parent of a child with APD, it’s important to know that there are several treatment options available. The key is to find the one that works best for your child.

The primary treatment for APD is speech therapy. Speech therapists work with children on ways to improve their auditory processing skills, such as sound recognition and word discrimination. Speech therapists also work to help children understand and use language more effectively.

Occupational therapists can help children with APD develop strategies to cope with the disorder. This includes learning new coping mechanisms, sensory integration techniques, and problem-solving strategies.

Auditory training is a form of therapy that involves using listening exercises and activities to help a child improve their auditory processing skills. It focuses on improving the child’s ability to recognize, process, and respond to sounds in different environments.

In addition to traditional therapies, alternative therapies such as neurofeedback, music therapy, and sound therapy have been used to help children with APD. Neurofeedback helps children learn to control and regulate their brainwave patterns, which can help them focus better and improve their auditory processing skills. Music therapy uses musical exercises to help children improve their auditory processing skills, while sound therapy uses sound frequencies to help children focus better.

It is important to remember that each child is unique and will respond differently to treatments. Be sure to talk with your doctor and therapist about the best treatment plan for your child. With the right support and resources, your child can lead a happy and successful life with APD.

1. Auditory memory exercises: These exercises can help improve a child’s ability to remember and recall sounds, such as words or phrases. For example, the therapist might play a series of words or phrases, and then ask the child to repeat them back in the same order. The child can progress by having more words or longer phrases to repeat.
2. Auditory discrimination exercises: These exercises can help a child learn to distinguish between different sounds, such as different words or sounds in words. For example, the therapist might play a pair of words, such as “cat” and “hat,” and ask the child to identify which one was said. Or the therapist might play two similar sounding words like “bat” and “pat” and ask the child to identify which one was said.
3. Auditory figure-ground exercises: These exercises can help a child learn to focus on a specific sound while filtering out background noise. For example, the therapist might play a recording of a voice speaking in a noisy background and ask the child to listen for a specific word or phrase. As the child improves, background noise can be made more complex.
4. Auditory closure exercises: These exercises can help a child with difficulty completing or understanding incomplete sentences. The therapist might play a recording of a sentence that is interrupted and ask the child to fill in the missing word or phrase.
5. Auditory directionality: Exercises that involve focusing on different sounds coming from different directions. These exercises can help children with APD to understand spatial relationships. For example, the therapist might play a sound or a word coming from one direction and then another and ask the child to identify the direction of the sound.

At home, these strategies that can help your child:

• Reduce background noise whenever possible.
• Have your child look at you when you speak. This helps give your child visual clues to “fill in the gaps” of missing speech information.
• Give your child simple verbal directions with less words, a key word to remember, and fewer steps. 
• Speak at a slightly slower rate with a clear voice. Louder does not always help. 
• Ask your child to repeat the directions back to you to ensure they understand.
• For directions to be completed later, writing notes, keeping a chore chart or list, using calendars with visual symbols, and maintaining routines can help.
• Many kids with APD find using close captions on TV and computer programs helpful.