What is Auditory Processing? Auditory Processing is a term used to describe what
happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you. Sounds travel from the inner ear through the
central nervous system to the brain. Each
component of the sound, e.g., rhythm, tone, duration, is decoded by various
parts of the brain. Auditory processing is a very complex action involving many
different processes.
How is an Auditory Processing Disorder Diagnosed? Typically,
an audiologist and a speech language pathologist work together to determine if
someone has an auditory processing disorder (APD).
A full audiological examination is usually needed in conjunction with a speech
and language evaluation for a proper diagnosis to be made. Children with APD
may exhibit a variety of listening and related complaints. There are also many types of APDs. Therefore, it is very important that a
variety of tests be administered that evaluate the different components of
sound, and how they are processed by your child to determine the type of
auditory deficit. Then, an individualized management and treatment plan may be
recommended.
Most of the tests
of APD require that a child be at least 7 or 8 years of age because the
variability in brain function is so marked in youngerchildren that test interpretation may not be
possible.
Symptoms of APD can
range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. Children
with auditory processing difficulty typically have normal hearing and
intelligence. However, they have also been observed to:
§
Have trouble paying attention to and remembering information
presented orally § Have problems carrying out multistep directions
§
Have poor listening skills §
Need more time to process information
§ Have low academic performance
§ Have behavior problems
§
Have language difficulty (e.g., they confuse syllable
sequences and have problems developing vocabulary and understanding language)
§ Have difficulty with reading, comprehension, spelling, and
vocabulary
Five main problem areas Auditory
Figure-Ground Problems:
difficulty paying attention when there's noise in the background.
Auditory Memory
Problems: difficulty
remembering information such as directions, lists, or study materials.
Auditory
Discrimination Problems:
difficulty hearing the difference between sounds or words that are
similar.
Auditory Attention
Problems: difficulty
maintaining focus for listening long enough to complete a task or
requirement .
Auditory Cohesion
Problems: difficulty with
higher-level listening tasks.
