Wasatch Auditory Processing - What is APD?

Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a complex condition that may exist on its own or in addition to other conditions (e.g. Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), cognitive disorders, anxiety, learning challenges). APD is the inability to interpret sound in the same manner as others. In most cases the person has "normal" hearing. APD is a disconnect between the ear hearing a sound and the brain interpreting the sound.

The condition is often missed because it can look like the other conditions (e.g. other learning disabilities, ADHD, depression) that are better known or understood. APD affects children and adults, can be developmental or acquired and can range from mild to severe. APD can present in various fashions creating difficulty in listening, especially when background noise is present. It can also create difficulty with reading fluency and/or comprehension, difficulty expressing one's self and/or behavior problems.

If you are concerned that you or your child has an auditory processing disorder ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is the person easily distracted or unusually bothered by loud or sudden noises?
  • Are noisy environments upsetting to the person?
  • Does the person's behavior and/or performance improve in quieter settings?
  • Does the person have difficulty following directions, especially more complex directions?
  • Does the person have reading, spelling, writing, or other speech-language difficulties?
  • Is abstract information difficult for the person to comprehend?
  • Are math story problems difficult for the person to complete?
  • Is the person disorganized and forgetful?
  • Is the flow of conversations hard for the person to follow?

Diagnosis of APD is a team effort involving the person suspected of having APD, family, school &/or employer, neuropsychologists, speech therapists and other professionals. Wasatch Auditory Processing is a practice specializing in the diagnosis of auditory processing.

Common APD behaviors include:

  • Frequently says What? or Huh?
  • Inconsistently or incorrectly responds to commands or directions
  • Seems to have selective hearing or seems to not be paying attention
  • Trouble listening or paying attention in noisy places and/or do not like noisy places
  • May have trouble following directions &/or does not understand stories or what has been said to them
  • Poor memory for things that they have heard as compared to things that they have seen or touched
  • Has academic problems including reading, writing and/or spelling
  • Often poor reading comprehension
  • Poor understanding of math applications
  • Fatigues with listening
  • Difficulty completing instructions in order
  • The person may have behavioral challenges as well as difficulty interacting peers
  • Often likes music, but changes words in the lyrics or struggles to remember lyrics

    • If you would like more information about auditory processing disorders go to these sites and type auditory processing disorder into the search engine.

    www.asha.org
    www.audiology.org
    www.kidshealth.org
    www.ncid.org/learningDisorders