Auditory Processing Disorder involves difficulty processing sound as the information travels from the inner ear up to certain parts of the brain. APD is not a hearing deficit….meaning that children with APD typically have normal hearing.
Children with Auditory Processing Disorder can have a weakness in one, some, or all of these areas:
Auditory Sequencing
The ability to understand and recall the order of sounds and words. For example, a child might hear the number 254 but write 245 or they might say or write “ephelant” instead of “elephant”.
Auditory Figure-Ground Discrimination
The ability to focus on the important sounds in a noisy setting. It would be like sitting at a sporting event and not being able to hear the person next to you because there is so much background noise.
Auditory Memory
The ability to recall what you have heard, either immediately or later when you need it.
Auditory Discrimination
The ability to notice, compare and distinguish between distinct and separate sounds. For example, the words “fourteen” and “forty” many sound alike.
Students with APD usually have some of the following symptoms:
Difficulty following oral directions, especially multi-step
Often ask for things to be repeated
Can be easily distracted by background noise or loud noises
Struggle with reading and spelling
Struggle with oral math problems
Sometime struggle to follow a conversation
Have weak musical ability
Struggle to learn songs or nursery rhymes
Auditory Processing Disorder should be evaluated and diagnosed by an audiologist with expertise in auditory processing. A comprehensive hearing evaluation is also important to rule out hearing loss. Speech-language pathologists may work alongside audiologists to assess related language and communication difficulties and recommend appropriate support.
Because APD can affect how a student learns and behaves in the classroom, students with APD can often be diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia before an auditory processing issue is discovered.
For more information about auditory processing disorders, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment considerations, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's guide to Auditory Processing Disorders in Children.
Understanding the Full Picture of Your Child's Learning
Auditory processing difficulties can overlap with challenges associated with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences. When a child struggles with following directions, reading, attention, or classroom learning, understanding the underlying causes is an important step toward finding appropriate support.
At Diagnostic Learning, our comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations help families identify learning and attention-related strengths and challenges, providing individualized recommendations for school and home. When concerns suggest a possible auditory processing disorder, a specialized evaluation with an audiologist may also be appropriate.
