Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Headline
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder, is a neurological condition that affects how the brain processes and interprets sounds. Individuals with APD typically have normal hearing ability, but their brains struggle to understand and organize auditory information—especially speech. This can lead to listening difficulties at school, work, and in everyday conversations.
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What Is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorder occurs when the central auditory nervous system does not function efficiently. Although the ears correctly receive sound, the brain has difficulty processing what is heard. This can affect a person’s ability to recognize speech sounds, follow spoken instructions, understand conversations in noisy environments, and remember auditory information.
APD is most commonly diagnosed in children, but it can also affect teenagers and adults. It is important to note that APD is not caused by hearing loss, low intelligence, or lack of attention, although it may coexist with conditions such as ADHD, speech delays, or learning disabilities.
Signs and Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder
Symptoms of APD can vary depending on age and severity. In children, APD symptoms often become noticeable in classroom settings where listening demands are high.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Trouble following multi-step verbal directions
- Confusing similar-sounding words
- Poor listening skills despite normal hearing tests
- Challenges with reading, spelling, and phonics
- Fatigue, frustration, or anxiety during listening tasks
Causes of Auditory Processing Disorder
The exact causes of Auditory Processing Disorder are not always known. However, several factors may contribute, including:
- Delayed auditory system development
- Frequent ear infections during early childhood
- Head injuries or concussions
- Neurological conditions or illnesses
- Genetic factors
APD may also develop later in life due to brain injury or neurological changes.
Understanding Your Hearing Concerns: We begin by discussing your hearing difficulties in detail. This helps us get a clear picture of your situation. We suggest bringing a Companion or significant other, family member, or friend to provide additional insights into your hearing challenges.
Gathering Medical Information: Your audiologist will review your current medical history, including any past injuries, medications, and conditions that might affect your hearing.
Lifestyle Discussion: We will talk about your daily activities, occupation, and recreational habits to understand how hearing loss impacts your life.
Visual Inspection: We conduct a thorough physical examination of your ears to check for blockages or abnormalities. Using a Video Otoscope we display the inside of your ear on a screen. This allows you to see what we see, providing a unique and engaging experience. Many clients find this aspect particularly interesting.
Air Conduction Testing: Conducted in a soundproof booth using headphones or insert earphones, this test uses audible “beep” sounds to determine the softest levels of sounds you can hear at different frequency ranges.
Bone Conduction Testing: A bone oscillator placed on your mastoid bone sends sound vibrations directly to your inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This helps identify the type of hearing loss.
Tympanometry: This test measures the movement of your eardrum by pushing air into your ear canal, helping us understand the condition of your middle ear.
Speech Reception Thresholds (SRT): You will be asked to repeat a series of two-syllable words that decrease in volume to determine the softest level of speech you can barely understand.
Word Recognition Testing: Using recorded words, this test measures your ability to understand speech at a comfortable listening level.
Speech-in-Noise (SIN) Testing: This test evaluates your ability to understand speech in background noise, a critical aspect for real-world hearing situations. For many people with hearing loss, this is their greatest difficulty, but not many audiologist include this test in their protocol.
Clear Explanation: We will discuss all your test results in detail, ensuring you understand your specific type of hearing loss.
Educational Approach: We take pride in our patient education, making sure you are well-informed about your hearing health and treatment options.
Joint Decision-Making: Based on your test results and personal input, we will work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
HearingUp Network Checklist: We adhere to the HearingUp Network Checklist to ensure that every aspect of your care meets the highest standards.
Follow-Up Care: We will schedule several follow-up visits over the course of your first year to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments.
Continuous Improvement: Our goal is to ensure you are hearing your best, and we provide ongoing support to achieve this.
Book APD Appointment
Auditory Processing Disorder is diagnosed by a licensed audiologist using specialized auditory processing tests. These tests assess how the brain processes sound rather than how well the ears hear. Diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive evaluation and may include input from speech-language pathologists, educators, and other healthcare professionals.
Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to rule out other conditions and to create an effective management plan.
What’s Next?
If you suspect Auditory Processing Disorder, seeking a professional evaluation can help guide the next steps toward support and success.
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