When you get told a large amount of information at one time, such as during an educational lecture, it can take a bit of time to process and grasp what you’ve been told. Did you know that there’s a type of disorder that can make it difficult for the brain to accurately perceive what’s being heard?
Auditory processing disorder (APD) refers to a hearing condition that can make it hard to accurately process verbal communication or information. It’s not a hearing loss condition, as you can still hear what’s being said. But it disrupts the way that your brain understands the words, causing a misinterpretation.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of auditory processing disorder before diving into how it can impact students as well as adults.
The basics of auditory processing disorder
Sometimes referred to as central auditory processing disorder or auditory perceptual disorder, auditory processing disorder can affect any age. However, most of the research shows how it impacts children as well as older adults. Research of patients who were referred to general audiology clinics showed an APD prevalence rate of 5% in children as well as 0.9% in adults. For older adults, APD can develop in connection to hearing loss.
APD impacts the auditory complex of the brain. Having APD is often described as having sounds blend together, or hearing a small difference in the sound, causing the brain to process the words as something else. For example, “now” may be misinterpreted as “how.”
While there hasn’t been a definitive cause of APD determined by research, there are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disorder, including:
- Head injuries
- Chronic middle ear infections
- Seizures or other neurological issues
- Lead poisoning
- Lyme disease
Auditory processing disorder can only be diagnosed by an audiologist. While APD can’t be cured, it’s possible for people who have been diagnosed with it, particularly young children, to “grow out of it.” Since auditory processing abilities continue to develop until about 13 years of age, individuals may have reduced symptoms as they get older. They would need to be retested by an audiologist.
How auditory processing disorder can impact your everyday life
APD goes beyond misinterpreting words. It can impact everything from daily social interactions to a student’s learning. Symptoms of auditory processing disorder include having challenges with:
- Identifying language sounds, impacting reading and spelling
- Understanding words in a loud room
- Being able to pinpoint where a sound is coming from
- Following complex or lengthy directions
- Differentiating similar sounds or words
- Paying attention in noisy environments
- Remembering information that was verbally presented
- Speaking with inflection
- Understanding auditory nonverbal communication, such as a joking tone or sarcasm
Most of the research surrounding APD focuses on how the disorder can impact a child, especially a school-age child. In fact, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) recognizes APD as a specific learning disability. It can lead to problems in school, home and social settings. Here are some examples of challenges that a child with APD may have:
- Difficulty writing and reading due to being unable to recognize how sounds blend
- Asking a parent or teacher to repeat their instructions
- Difficulty following multiple steps that were told verbally, such as during a class project
- Having trouble staying focused and on task when other students are speaking
Here are some ways that APD can affect people of any age:
- Inability to determine who is calling their name in a loud setting
- Anxiety from miscommunication issues
- Difficulty remembering verbal information, such as navigational directions
- Trouble learning new languages
How to treat APD
There are treatment options that can help reduce the impact of auditory processing disorder on a person’s everyday life. While some are technological devices that can make it easier to hear more clearly, there are also everyday modifications that can be incorporated into the person’s lifestyle. Here are some treatment options worth exploring:
- Assistive technology — Assistive listening devices, also known as frequency modulated systems, can reduce background noise in loud environments. These can be especially useful in helping a student hear their teachers better in large, busy classrooms.
- Computer training — Branching off the previous point is another technological advancement that can help APD: computer training programs. There are computer programs that work as auditory training to help people improve their ability to understand sounds.
- Classroom adjustments — For students with APD, making classroom modifications can make a significant difference. One option is to physically accommodate the child by seating them in a part of the classroom where they can hear the teacher speak with reduced additional noise or reverberation of their voice. They can also be provided with picture-based instructions.
Collaborate with your child’s doctors to determine the best options for APD treatment.
Beyond BookSmart can help your child manage the challenges that come from auditory processing disorder
While auditory processing disorder can cause challenges for a student, there are ways to improve the Executive Function skills that are impacted by the symptoms, such as concentration and working memory.
At Beyond BookSmart, we believe that Executive Function skills:
- Are coachable
- Are trainable
- Can be applied for success by any student
This view informs all our Executive Function coaching services.
Our services are also customizable to each student’s needs, emotional challenges, and learning differences, including auditory processing disorder. This customization allows us to help every student work toward becoming the most capable version of themselves.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an inquiry call.