What if Hearing Issues Don’t Stem From The Ear?
Most people think of hearing issues as a problem with the ear. In some cases—especially in children and older adults—the source of their hearing difficulties is not the ear itself, but the part of the brain that processes sound.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), sometimes called Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), is a condition where people have trouble understanding what they hear, but do not have a hearing loss. Sounds are traveling through the ear effectively, yet the person may have difficulty processing and responding to what they hear.
What Are The Symptoms of APD?
Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder (ADP) include difficulty with:
- Determining where sound is coming from.
- Paying attention to spoken directions.
- Understanding people who are talking quickly or in a noisy room.
- Reading and spelling in your native language, or learning a new language.
- Singing, playing or enjoying music.
- Remembering what you have heard.
It’s common for people with APD to take longer than usual to reply when someone is talking to them. They may often ask others to repeat themselves and have difficulty knowing whether something is a joke or not. Schedule an appointment with Associated Audiologists today for a comprehensive evaluation!
Diagnosing Auditory Processing Disorder (ADP)
The diagnosis and treatment of APD often requires multiple specialists working together to support the patient’s needs.
Step 1: See an Audiologist for a Hearing Evaluation
The first stop for any hearing-related concerns is an audiologist, like one of the doctoral-level audiologists at Associated Audiologists. They can perform comprehensive hearing evaluations to determine whether there are problems with hearing in the ear itself.
Step 2: Visit with a Speech-Language Pathologist
If the audiologist does not find any evidence of hearing loss, the next step is usually a speech-language pathologist, who can assess how the person uses language.
Step 3: Consult a Mental Health Professional
Sometimes a mental health professional, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, can help determine whether a person’s auditory processing difficulties are affecting their mental health and well-being. They are also able to perform specialized testing to determine whether other conditions like ADHD, autism or dyslexia are present.
Who is Affected by Auditory Processing Disorder (ADP)?
People of all ages can have APD, but it is especially common in children and older people.
Children with auditory processing disorder often have experienced things like:
- Low birth weight or prematurity
- Repeated ear infections as a young child
- Seizure disorders
- Substance use by their birth mother, or exposure to harmful substances such as lead during childhood
Adults are at an increased risk of auditory processing disorder due to:
- Aging
- Stroke
- Head trauma
- Seizure disorders
What are The Treatment Options for ADP?
Treatment for Auditory Processing Disorder, if needed, is very much tailored to the individual. That’s why a collaborative health care team that includes multiple specialists is extremely helpful for people with APD.
Treatment options can include:
- Hearing aids and listening devices. Even people with typical hearing abilities can benefit from using hearing aids paired with wireless listening devices. This helps reduce or eliminate barriers like room noise and crowd sounds so the brain can focus on just processing the desired sounds, like a teacher’s voice.
- Auditory training. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist can provide hearing rehabilitation training to individuals or groups of people. Like a baseball player learning to field pop flies, ground balls and line drives, auditory training sends sounds from different directions, volumes and speeds to help your brain learn to handle them better.
- Apps and digital training programs. Especially with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), there are an increasing number of apps and brain games available to help improve the brain’s processing speed and accuracy. In addition to the cognitive benefits, these can also be a fun way for friends and family members to connect and engage with the person who is working on their auditory processing skills.
Supporting Loved Ones With ADP
As with many types of hearing and cognitive challenges, the best “medicine” is often patience and adaptability from loved ones. Remember: It is not that the person is choosing not to listen to you—they are not able to process sounds as quickly.
Loved ones can:
- Reduce background noise in the room by turning off the TV or music when talking.
- Speak more slowly and allow more time after you speak, but don’t shout. Think Mr. Rogers: Clear, gentle and measured in tone.
- Emphasize a key word or two: “Got your keys and phone?”
- Provide visual cues, like turning toward the person so they can see your face or writing down a question or list. Closed captioning on TV also helps.
- Ask a question another way if the person doesn’t understand the first time. For instance, “Are you hungry for pizza?” instead of, “What do you want for dinner?”
With patience and support, people with auditory processing disorder can learn to navigate their challenges and find strategies that work best for their specific needs.
Request an appointment with a doctoral-level audiologist near you today!
