Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Auditory processing disorder can be found in individuals with and without hearing loss, and usually begins in childhood.
It isn’t necessarily related to hearing loss, and it isn’t a learning issue or sign of lower intelligence. The brain simply doesn’t "hear," or process, speech and sounds in the usual way. People with APD complain of some or all of the following challenges:
- Difficulty understanding/hearing what is being said when there are competing voices or environmental sounds
- Feeling like people speak too quickly or "mumble"
- Trouble with paying attention to the thing or person they should be listening to while tuning out other sounds
- Problems following multi-step directions or remembering lists Inaccuracy with identifying the location of sound
- Non-enjoyment of music (pitch and timing perception is off)
- Poor auditory memory
Other Symptoms Of APD
Other symptoms can also be observed in both APD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as:
- Distractibility
- Inattention
- Poor listening skills
- Academic difficulties
- Difficulty following directions
Because these symptoms can overlap, our testing is critical for separating out true APD from other disorders that may have similar symptoms, but are treated very differently. For example, some individuals with ADHD may be treated with medication, but medication is not appropriate for the treatment of APD.
Our clinic is unique in that we take a wholistic view of APD and its impact on healthy communication. In fact, we’re the only eastern Montana clinic to provide this comprehensive service. Some clinics have the appropriate technology, but don’t offer testing. Others can provide therapy, but aren’t part of the diagnostic process.
Our Methods
Our methods for diagnosing and treating APD take advantage of our fully integrated hearing and speech expertise.
Our three-pronged approach starts with TESTING, to identify the presence and severity of APD. We introduce TECHNOLOGY, to help cut through background noise and improve your ability to pay attention to what’s important and tune out what’s not, and we bring in THERAPY, to help you improve your communication skills and learn compensatory strategies.
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