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Auditory processing disorder (APD) is where you have difficulty understanding sounds, including spoken words. There are things you can do that can help.
Auditory processing disorder (APD) often starts in childhood, but some people develop it later.
If you or your child have APD, you may find it difficult to understand:
APD is not a hearing problem. People with the condition usually have normal hearing.
The GP may refer you to a hearing specialist.
To test for auditory processing disorder (APD) you or your child may be asked to:
Other tests may include:
Testing for APD is not usually done on children under 7 years old.
There's no cure for auditory processing disorder (APD) but there are things that can help.
Treatment usually involves activities to improve listening and concentration. This is called auditory training. You can do it with a hearing specialist or in your own time online.
To reduce background noise, schoolchildren with APD may be advised to wear a wireless earpiece that connects to a tiny microphone worn by their teacher.
There are things that you and other people can do to help with your or your child's auditory processing disorder (APD).
talk face to face
use pictures and text
repeat or rephrase things if necessary
use carpet and soft furnishings to reduce room noise
do not cover your mouth when talking
do not talk in long complicated sentences
do not speak too fast or too slow
do not have background noise, like TV and radio
It's not always clear what causes auditory processing disorder (APD).
Possible causes include:
APD is often found in people with attention, language and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
