Imagine you can hear sounds, but cannot process the ‘meaning’ of that sound. Seems impossible right? We do not consciously attach meaning to sounds, they are just, well, sounds. But for someone with Auditory Processing Disorder (also known as central auditory processing disorder, auditory perceptual processing dysfunction, auditory comprehension deficit, central deafness or word deafness) these sounds can get lost in an auditory overload and mean they are often left in a world of confusion.

In children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), the brain cannot make sense of what their ears hear because the auditory signal is distorted. Children with APD can find it difficult to distinguish speech within competing noise in any environment, particularly the classroom. They find it hard to focus and concentrate, they get frustrated and tired and their school work suffers. People with APD can also find it hard to understand the meaning of a sound, being the tone that the speaker expresses when they speak. Say, for example, you excitedly point out a dog walking opposite you. Depending on the tone and meaning of your voice, the listener reacts appropriately. People with APD struggle to process this meaning, and subsequently can find it hard to react in the expected manner.

Some outstanding features of APD include:

Inability to remember and follow instructions
Trouble understanding whats being said in a noisy environment with competing sounds, but fine when it’s quiet
Tests in the low range in hearing tests
Delayed language development
Behaviour problems
Trouble with high frequency sounds like ‘t’, ‘f’, ‘s’, ‘k’, ‘p’, ‘th’ and ‘sh’
Confusion with similar sounds like ‘da’ and ‘ba’
Short attention span and easily distracted
Difficulty expressing oneself

APD can often lead to feelings of frustration and isolation, especially when gone undiagnosed. It is also very common for APD to accompany, or be a feature of, other disorders such as Aspergers syndrome, dyslexia, autism, developmental and speech delay, dyspraxia, ADD and ADHD.

Testing for APD cannot be undertaken until a child is 6 years or older. If you suspect your child may feature some of the characteristics of APD, you should consult your GP for referral.

Once a diagnosis of APD is made, th severity of the disorder is assessed to create an individual management plan. It is important to note that there is no one generalised treatment or cure for APD, and treatment and management is specific to the individual. Most plans focus on a change in learning or communication environment, development of coping skills and addressing the auditory deficit itself. The type, frequency, and intensity of therapy should be programmed individually for the specific type of auditory disorder that is present and outcomes of treatment cannot be determined in advance. Some children react positively to treatment immediately, some take longer and some do not improve at all. However, the main objective is to recognise the difficulty and allow the child to function to their full ability in a supportive environment.

If you become concerned about any symptoms please seek immediate medical attention we have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information. All information provided is correct at time of publication.

Sources

http://auditoryprocessing.com.au/1-auditory.html

http://www.hearing.com.au/central-auditory-processing-disorder/

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/