Auditory Processing refers to the means by which we make sense of what we hear. 'Auditory Processing Disorders' are disorders in which people are not able to make proper sense of what they hear. They may indeed have normal hearing, but they have difficulty understanding auditory information. This may be apparent by difficulty understanding speech in the presence in noise, problems following multi-step directions, and difficulty with phonics or reading comprehension, among other things. Auditory Processing plays a critical role in a child's ability to learn. If you suspect your child has is struggling we recommend that they undergo a series of tests designed to diagnose their particular problem. Often children with APD are seen as having language, learning and/or attention difficulties instead of a simple hearing problem. Our Audiologist will do a thorough assessment which may include a consultation with a speech language pathologist who can determine if any of your child's difficulties are related to language processing. Individualized remediation programs are available to help strengthen auditory processing skills in diagnosed children and adults. A comprehensive educational report will then be provided so that you can take this to your child's school for implementation.
Some of the common behavioral characteristics often noted in children with APD are as follows:

Difficulty hearing in noisy situations
Difficulty following multi-step directions
Difficulty with reading and/or spelling
Difficulty remembering spoken information
Being easily distracted by other sounds in the environment
Difficulty with organizational skills
Difficulty in directing, sustaining, or dividing attention

Some of the characteristics listed above are often categorized as other disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Language Disorder, Learning Disorder etc. It is very important that a proper diagnosis of APD is made so that appropriate management strategies can be implemented. Diagnoses of APD should not be made based on results of a single test. Rather a battery of tests should be administered by a qualified audiologist in a sound booth before areas of weakness in auditory processing can be identified.
If you would like further information about APD please call us at 717-627-4327.


Additional Links for APD

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Council for Exceptional Children
Information Center on Disabilities and Gifted Education.

Aritcle by Mignon M. Schminky and Jane A. Baran
Department of Communication Disorders
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts