Quick Guide to Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder is a condition in which kids have trouble managing information that they hear. There is nothing wrong with their hearing, but they miss a lot of what is said to them and around them. They have an especially hard time processing auditory information in loud or distracting environments. Auditory processing disorder can get in the way of a child’s ability to learn and interact with other people. 

Not all experts recognize auditory processing disorder as a formal disorder. The symptoms overlap with other diagnoses such as ADHD and learning and language disorders. Many kids with auditory processing disorder also have one of these other diagnoses. 

Signs that a child might have auditory processing disorder include: 

• Difficulty following directions 
• Asking for information to be repeated 
• Trouble telling the difference between words that sound similar 
• Lack of focus, especially in noisy surroundings 
• Trouble remembering things like nursery rhymes or song lyrics 
• Struggling with reading, spelling, speaking, or rhyming 
• Mixing up the order of sounds in words or numbers in a sequence 
• Struggling to follow conversations 
• Trouble expressing thoughts and feelings clearly 

Auditory processing disorder can only be diagnosed by a specialist called an audiologist. They can run tests that measure different aspects of the child’s auditory processing abilities. Normally children are not mature enough to take these tests until they are seven or eight years old.

The most common type of professional help for APD is speech-language therapy, which helps children build skills in distinguishing, remembering, and sequencing sounds. There is some research to support the effectiveness of speech-language therapy, and families and clinicians often say that it works well. The brain may also simply mature to learn these skills on its own. There are also suggestions that some computer programs can help kids build skills. 

Another way to help kids with auditory processing disorder is through educational therapy. Educational therapy helps kids learn to use other skills to make up for their auditory challenges. They can learn to manage frustration and play to their strengths.