kids with this condition cant understand what they hear in the same way other kids do. This is because their ears and brain don’t fully coordinate , something interferes with the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds , especially speech.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms of APD can range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. If you think your child might have a problem processing sounds, ask yourself:
Does my child often mishear sounds and words?
Are noisy environments overwhelming when my child is trying to listen?
Does my child’s listening behaviors and performance improve in quieter settings?
Does my child have trouble following verbal directions, whether simple or complicated?
Does my child have trouble with spelling or phonics?
Are verbal (word) math problems hard for my child?
Are conversations hard for my child to follow?
APD is often misunderstood because many of its symptoms are similar to those found in other disorders. Also, APD symptoms can be hidden by other problems, like speech-language delays, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression. Auditory memory deficits, auditory attention problems, and sound sensitivity are not symptoms of APD, but also may involve trouble with using sound information correctly.
Types of Auditory processing Disorder:
Auditory figure-ground: This is when a child has trouble understanding speech when there is speech babble or ambient noise in the background. Noisy, loosely structured or open-air classrooms can be very frustrating for a child with APD.
Auditory closure: This is when a child can’t “fill in the gaps” of speech when it is more challenging. This can happen in a quieter situation but is more common when the speaker’s voice is too fast or is muffled, making it hard for the child to make sense of the sounds and words.
Dichotic listening: This is when a child has trouble understanding competing, meaningful speech that happens at the same time. For example, if a teacher is talking on one side of the child and another student is talking on the other side, the child with APD cannot understand the speech of one or both of the speakers.
Temporal processing: This is the timing of a child’s processing system, which helps them recognize differences in speech sounds (such as mat versus pat). It also helps them understand pitch and intonation (for example, asking a question instead of giving a command), understand riddles and humor, and make inferences.
Binaural interaction: This is the ability to know which side speech or sounds are coming from, and to localize sound in a room. Although less common, this problem happens in children with a history of brain trauma or seizure disorders.
What to at Home
1.Reduce background noise whenever possible.
2.Have your child look at you when you speak. This helps give your child visual clues to “fill in the gaps” of missing speech information.
3.Use strategies like “chunking,” which means giving your child simple verbal directions with less words, a key word to remember, and fewer steps.
4.Speak at a slightly slower rate with a clear voice. Louder does not always help. (Again, think Mr. Rogers!)
5.Ask your child to repeat the directions back to you to ensure they understand.
6.For directions to be completed later, writing notes, keeping a chore chart or list, using calendars with visual symbols, and maintaining routines can help.
7.Many kids with APD find using close captions on TV and computer programs helpful.
8.Encourage kids to advocate for themselves. Telling adults when listening is hard for them can help. But shy kids might need to use agreed-upon visual cards or signals for coaches, parents, and teachers.
9.Most important, remind your child that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We all learn in different ways. Be patient. This is hard for your child and takes time. Your child wants to do well, and needs patience, love, and understanding while they work toward success.
