Auditory processing is the way the brain understands and makes sense of the sounds coming in our ears. It is the brain that sorts out these sounds, recognizes them, and creates meaning from them.
Auditory processing is criticially important for understanding speech, especially in noisy places or when more than one person is talking. Auditory processing helps us to:
Tell the difference between similar sounds (like “cat” and “cap”)
Determine where a sound is coming from
Understand speech, especially when there is background noise
Remember and follow spoken instructions
What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?
Even with normal hearing, a person can have trouble with auditory processing of sounds. This can lead to problems with listening, understanding speech, learning, and communicating with others.
Auditory processing is a complex skill that develops as children grow. Some children and adults may have more difficulty with these skills than others, and this can affect their experiences and performance at school, work, and in social life.
Current research points to many potential contributing factors for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), including:
• Genetic Factors: Some research suggests that APD may run in families, meaning that genetics can play a role.
• Brain Development and Function: APD is linked to how the central auditory system (the part of the brain that processes sound) develops and works. Differences in how the brainstem and higher brain areas handle sound can also contribute to APD.
• Early Ear Problems: Long-term ear infections (like otitis media with fluid) during childhood can affect how the brain learns to process sounds. This is because the brain has missed out on clear sounds during important periods of development.
• Auditory Experience: The way a person’s brain processes sound can be shaped by their experiences over time. If a child grows up in a noisy environment or has limited exposure to clear speech, their auditory processing skills can be affected.
• Other Factors: Some children with APD show differences in how their ears and brain work together, such as changes in cochlear function or how the brain filters out background noise.
• Developmental Differences: APD can be part of a broader developmental delay. Children with APD may also have other learning or attention problems, such as dyslexia or ADHD. These conditions often occur together. The exact reasons for this are still being studied.
Is APD caused by hearing loss?
No. APD is different from hearing loss. Most people with APD have normal hearing when tested with standard hearing tests. The problem is with how the brain makes sense of sounds, not with the ears themselves.
Conditions that Sometimes Occur with APD
While some children have APD without having any other conditions, others have other co-occuring conditions as well as APD. These can include:
• Language Impairment: Some children with APD also have trouble understanding or using language. This can include problems with vocabulary, grammar, or following directions. Language impairment is one of the most common conditions seen with APD.
• Reading Disorders (Dyslexia): Difficulties with reading, such as dyslexia, are frequently found in children with APD, and may affect reading accuracy, fluency, or understanding what they read.
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Problems with attention, focus, or hyperactivity often occur alongside APD.
• Learning Disorders: APD can be part of a broader learning disorder, which may affect skills like writing, math, or memory. These learning challenges can make school more difficult.
• Pragmatic Language Impairment: Some children with APD have trouble with the social use of language, such as taking turns in conversation or understanding jokes.
• Anxiety and Behavioral Concerns: Children with APD may also experience sleep problems, anxiety or behavioral issues, such as being easily frustrated or having trouble managing emotions.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) in Adults
Sometimes, people develop problems with auditory processing later in life, even if their hearing tests are normal. APD symptoms in adults may include:
Trouble following conversations in noisy places, like restaurants or group settings
Difficulty understanding speech, even when the speaker is clear
Needing people to repeat themselves often
Feeling tired or stressed after listening for long periods
Having difficulty telling where sounds are coming from
Struggling to remember spoken instructions
Why do these problems happen? Auditory processing problems that appear later in life can have several causes including aging, brain injury, illness, exposure to loud noises or toxins, and medical conditions, including neurological diseases.
Why is it important for adults with APD to get help? Auditory processing problems can lead to frustration, anxiety, and social withdrawal. They may also be linked to memory or thinking changes in older adults.
APD Testing
Hearing Advantage’s testing services canhelp you determine whether or not you or your child have APD. Click the button below to contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment for APD testing.