| APD can be defined as difficulties in the perceptual | | | | - Difficulty following complex verbal directions |
| processing of auditory information by the Central | | | | - Spelling and reading difficulties |
| Nervous System. Put simply APD is a deficit in | | | | - Language delay / disorder |
| the neural processing of auditory information. The | | | | - Poor sound / phonological awareness needed for |
| child has normal hearing but experiences difficulty | | | | literacy skills (reading and writing) |
| in discriminating, processing and understanding | | | | - Difficulty maintaining attention to auditory |
| sound signals. | | | | information |
| Difficulties discriminating between speech and | | | | - Frustration and distractibility |
| noise /sounds is a common experience for the | | | | - Difficulty with sound localization |
| child with APD. The disorder can often go | | | | - Difficulty following the flow of discussions |
| undetected but can significantly impact a child's | | | | - Difficulty listening / comprehending when there is |
| ability to cope with the language requirements of | | | | background noise |
| a classroom and to develop essential reading and | | | | - Difficulties with short term auditory memory |
| writing skills. Typically a child with APD copes well | | | | Facts about APD |
| in a one to one context but experiences difficulty | | | | - Boys are 3 times more likely to have auditory |
| in large classroom environments. | | | | processing disorder than girls |
| Signs of APD | | | | - Almost 75% of children with APD have had a |
| APD can even impact the child's ability to socialize | | | | speech or language difficulties |
| and follow conversations. Typically a person may | | | | - Children with APD often have a history of |
| experience difficulties in the following: | | | | middle ear infections (otitis media) |
| Children with CAPD may exhibit: | | | | - A child with Auditory Processing Disorder does |
| - Short attention span | | | | NOT have an intellectual or cognitive problem |
| - Difficulty following instructions | | | | What to do? |
| - Easy distraction | | | | Consult an audiologist or speech pathologist in |
| - May be noise sensitive or reactive to loud noises | | | | your area. An Audiologist can only conclusively |
| eg. | | | | diagnose APD however Speech Pathologists do |
| - Vacuum cleaner - May be overwhelmed by | | | | have an important role in supporting diagnosis and |
| very noisy environments School-aged children with | | | | some forms on intervention particularly relating to |
| CAPD may exhibit: | | | | language processing and literacy. |