Have you ever encountered a situation in which you heard something but could not actually understand what it meant? This normally happens when the speaker is situated at a considerable distance from you or when the volume level in the room is excessive. People who have been diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD) frequently find themselves in situations of this nature.
A person may have trouble understanding words and speech if they suffer from auditory processing disorder. With this condition, it can be challenging to pick up on the subtle differences in meaning between words, which can result in serious communication gaps.
Hearing loss or learning difficulties are typically associated with APD. It’s worth noting that auditory processing disorder is not linked to comprehension. Simply put, auditory processing disorder occurs when the brain has difficulty picking up sounds in the way that it was designed to do so.
Who is commonly diagnosed with auditory processing disorder?
Auditory processing disorder tends to affect youngsters more frequently than adults. However, it is still possible to develop the disorder in adulthood. According to the available data, APD affects anywhere between 2% and 7% of children, with boys being more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
APD might result in learning difficulties if it is not properly addressed. It is for this reason that obtaining an accurate diagnosis, in order to rule out the possibility of other learning impairments, is of the utmost importance.
Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyslexia, and ADHD
There is a strong correlation between auditory processing problems and illnesses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, which have many of the same symptoms. Children who have been diagnosed with auditory processing disorder are found to have similar learning difficulties to children who have been identified to have learning disabilities, dyslexia, or specific language impairment, according to the findings of a systematic review that was carried out in the year 2018.
It is imperative that a complete evaluation and diagnosis be obtained before any kind of intervention may begin. Auditory processing disorder can be effectively treated or managed if a correct diagnosis has been made, which will provide medical professionals with a baseline for the illness and allow them to devise a treatment or management strategy for it.
Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder
A child’s ability to communicate could be affected by auditory processing disorder (APD). It’s possible that they struggle with writing, reading, and spelling. They might also have problems taking in information from the outside world because they mix-up similar sounding words.
Those who suffer from an auditory processing problem have a difficult time comprehending what others are saying to them. Conversations can get challenging as a result of this. It’s possible that they don’t comprehend what the other person is saying, or that they say something that has nothing to do with what’s being discussed.
If you have auditory processing disorder, you may have difficulty in:
- Identifying where sounds come from
- Keeping track of conversations
- Following or remembering verbal instructions
- Understanding what is being said in a noisy or crowded room
Causes of Auditory Processing Disorder
The main cause of auditory processing disorder remains to be established, but there are various triggering factors acknowledged such as:
- Head injury
- Complications at birth
- Genetic problems
- Chronic ear infections
- Lead poisoning
- Meningitis
Auditory Processing Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment
A series of examinations will be carried out by an audiologist in order to make a diagnosis of auditory processing impairment. You will be asked to listen to a variety of words, phrases, and sentences while the level of background noise will gradually increase. This will allow for a thorough assessment of your hearing. In addition to this, spoken instructions will be delivered at progressively faster speeds in order to identify any listening or hearing deficiencies.
Audiologists are the only trained professionals who can diagnose auditory processing disorder. A hearing test will be administered to determine whether or not the difficulties in communicating are the result of hearing loss or something else.
Audiologists are trained to evaluate and diagnose patients of any age, including children and adults, in order to rule out or confirm the presence of auditory processing disorder.
A specific treatment for auditory processing disorder has yet to be developed. Interventions and treatments for auditory processing disorder are designed to be personalized to the needs of the patient. The following is a list of therapies for APD:
Classroom and school support
Kids that have difficulty hearing their teachers when they are in the classroom either have a hearing or behavioral condition, or the classroom has too much background noise which makes it difficult to concentrate. Utilizing electronic equipment or putting kids with APD in the front row are two options that may be helpful in the learning process.
Therapy
Auditory Processing Therapy is available depending on where the individual is experiencing processing difficulty. At Oracle Hearing Center, we provide you with access to Auditory Processing Therapy in person or remotely. We will often re-test you post therapy to monitor your progress and results.
Auditory Processing Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment in Lawrenceville, NJ
A person’s ability to perform at work or school can be negatively impacted by auditory processing disorder. There are a variety of treatments available to assist those who have APD to achieve success in their academic and professional endeavors.
Early diagnosis is essential, especially for kids. If you wait until auditory processing disorder becomes a serious issue before taking efforts towards treating the problem, then additional implications could potentially come about, such as learning issues or missing developmental milestones.
APD is unique for each individual, hence, we see to it that we perform a thorough hearing evaluation to provide the best plan of intervention to address communication gaps. Audiologists at Oracle Hearing Center are trained to diagnose and provide the necessary interventions for auditory processing disorder. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!