Many audiologists (even pediatric audiologists) do not perform APD testing so it’s common to be referred to an additional clinic or to the school district’s educational audiology team for an APD evaluation. Once the audiologist has established that hearing is normal, they can recommend APD testing. A “hearing test” done at school or a doctor’s office is only a screening, so it’s important to have a complete diagnostic hearing evaluation done. The first step in an APD evaluation is a standard hearing evaluation by an audiologist. less background noise).How can my child be evaluated for Auditory Processing Disorder? Especially in specific environments, a hearing aid can help to reduce the impact of background noise through an improved signal-to-noise ratio (i.e. Some adults or children with APD and normal hearing benefit from a hearing aid set to a low volume. Adults can also consider recording important meetings for later listening. Sitting in a corner will also be helpful if booths are not available. For example, when going out to eat, choosing a booth with benches with high backs will help cut out background noise. In addition to an FM system and therapy, adults with APD will also benefit from clearly communicating their needs and strategically choosing listening situations to help them. Asking people to repeat what they said.Ĭhildren should be aware of their needs so they can clearly communicate them to their friends and other adults.It’s important to support children with APD to advocate for their own needs. Therapy to specifically address auditory processing skills.Visual cues to accompany verbal directions, such as written directions or pictures.An FM system, which is a small microphone the teacher wears to send their voice directly into headphones that a student with APD wears.A strategic seating arrangement, like near the speaker at the front of the class.If a child is diagnosed with APD, an audiologist will establish a list of accommodations to help the child succeed at school. A physician, psychologist, or speech-language pathologist can assess and rule out other conditions contributing to the understanding difficulty. Some of these include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, developmental delay, significant speech or language disorders, or hearing loss.įor this reason, it can be useful to take a team approach in determining the most accurate diagnosis. There are a variety of other etiologies that can disrupt the chain of events involved in hearing and present with similar symptoms as APD. It’s important to note that APD is a diagnosis of exclusion. telling the difference between similar sounds.understanding speech in noisy environments.At your appointment, the audiologist may look for difficulties: You can find a professional in your area at ASHA ProFind.Īn audiologist will conduct a series of tests to determine whether an APD diagnosis is appropriate. If you or your child is having trouble hearing or understanding, consider making an appointment with an audiologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing. However, strategies and accommodations are required for those with APD to thrive. It is critical to highlight that people with APD can understand complex concepts when they receive them in other ways, such as through reading or if a speaker talks slowly and there is no background noise.ĪPD does not affect a person’s intelligence. APD is not an indication of intelligence. Someone with APD could have excellent results on their hearing tests but struggle to grasp conversations, miss instructions, or ask people to repeat themselves. Because of this, APD is often first noticed in childhood. When someone with Auditory Processing Disorder hears speech, their brain does not combine or understand the speech in the same ways as someone without APD. This disconnect between the ears and the brain is often diagnosed as APD. Sometimes, the ear picks up sounds or speech, but the brain has trouble deciphering their meaning. Hearing is complex and involves an intricate chain of events that begins at the outer ear and travels up to the brain.
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