Auditory processing disorder, or APD, is a neurological condition that has an impact on the brain’s ability to process auditory information properly.
It’s characterized by challenges interpreting, analyzing, and making sense of everyday sounds. Someone diagnosed with APD doesn’t necessarily have heightened hearing sensitivity but understanding speech and other auditory signals may lead to challenges when it comes to communication and learning.
This condition affects around 3 to 4% of the population.
What are Symptoms of APD?
People who suffer with auditory processing disorder may experience a range of different symptoms, which can vary in scope and severity. Some of the most common APD symptoms include:
- Challenges understanding speech in noisy environments
- Difficulty following verbal instructions, especially if they have multiple steps
- Problems distinguishing between words that sound similar
- Issues locating the source of a particular sound
- Problems building reading skills
- Problems filtering out irrelevant background noise
- Poor auditory memory, especially as it pertains to sequences of sounds or instructions
- Slow processing of spoken language
Understanding APD means understanding that the condition is not related to actual hearing loss, but issues in the brain’s ability to process and interpret the auditory information it receives.
The precise cause hasn’t been identified, but many believe it’s from a combination of genetic factors, developmental issues, or childhood experiences in the central auditory pathways of the brain.
Current Treatment Options
When someone receives an APD diagnosis, it usually involves a comprehensive assessment by speech language pathologists and audiologists. The treatments for APD management can involve a range of different strategies that include:
- Auditory training exercises
- Environmental modification to reduce background noise
- Strategic seating arrangements in class
- A device called an FM system that helps raise the level of a teacher’s voice above classroom noise
- Picture-based or written instructions to accompany verbal instructions
Since the brain continues to grow and develop through childhood, it is possible that some kids diagnosed with APD before the age of 13 could grow out of it. Receiving treatments for APD can also help a child’s auditory processing skills improve during this time.
It’s always a good idea for any kids that were diagnosed with APD before the age of 13 to be re-tested every one or two years to monitor any changes or improvements.
Testing Eligibility
Quite often, parents or schoolteachers are the ones that notice auditory processing difficulties in a particular child. Due to the complexities of this condition, several factors are required for a child to be eligible for testing. These include:
- Being at least 7 years old
- Having normal hearing, speech, and language skills
- Having a normal level of intelligence
Certain co-occurring conditions can prevent a child from qualifying for APD testing, such as:
- Down syndrome
- Developmental delay disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Any degree of hearing loss
- Significant speech or language disorders
- Intellectual disabilities
Anyone with a child or student that seems to exhibit APD systems and has problems with auditory processing should reach out to their family physician to see if testing is an option. Implementing the various treatment options at the right age can make a big difference moving forward.
The Chicago Mind Solutions Difference
Chicago Mind Solutions works with individuals, offering neuropsychological testing and non-invasive treatment for many mental health conditions. For more information about our treatments and teletherapy options, please contact us at (224) 723-5050 or email info@chicagomindsolutions.com.
