Reference
- Central Auditory Processing DisorderChildren who have difficulty using information they hear in academic and social situations may have central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), more recently termed “auditory processing disorder” (APD). These children typically can hear information but have difficulty attending to, storing, locating, retrieving, and/or clarifying that information to make it useful for academic and social purposes. This can have a negative impact on both language acquisition and academic performance.
What Is Central Auditory Processing?
When the ears detect sound, the auditory stimulus travels through the structures of the ears, or the peripheral auditory system, to the central auditory nervous system that extends from the brain stem to the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex. The auditory stimulus travels along the neural pathways where it is “processed,” allowing the listener to determine the direction from which the sound comes, identify the type of sound, separate the sound from background noise, and interpret the sound. The listener builds upon what is heard by storing, retrieving, or clarifying the auditory information to make it functionally useful.
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Perspectives
When the Brain Can't Hear
In this landmark book, Dr. Teri James Bellis, one of the world's leading authorities on auditory processing disorder (APD), explains the nature of this devastating condition and provides insightful case studies that illustrate its effect on the lives of its sufferers. Millions of Americans struggle silently with APD. For many of them, holding a simple conversation can be next to impossible. As sound travels through an imperfect auditory pathway, words become jumbled, distorted, and unintelligible. As Dr. Bellis notes, the most profound impact of this highly specific impediment to auditory comprehension may be on the young. Facing a severely reduced ability to read, spell, comprehend, and communicate, children with APD are subject to anxiety, academic failure, and a damaged sense of self. Often, they are misdiagnosed. Discussing the latest and most promising clinical advances and treatment options, and providing a host of proven strategies for coping, Dr. Bellis takes much of the mystery out of APD. If you or anyone you know has difficulty comprehending spoken language, or if your child is struggling in school, this important book may have the answers you need.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a debilitating neurological condition in which the brain is unable to effectively process sounds and speech. An estimated 5 - 10% of children are affected uniquely. APD can have a significant impact on all aspects of lifelong communication. This authoritative guide includes advice on how to identify, diagnose and support the condition in children, teenagers and adults. It provides everyday strategies based on 20 years of research to try at home, at school and at work. This book aims to help families, teachers and other professionals to understand and support those living with this complex invisible disability. Containing supportive case studies, the book addresses a range of prevalent issues, including relationships, self-esteem, confidence and mental health, making this a comprehensive guide for all things APD.
Can I Tell You about Auditory Processing Disorder?
In this friendly guide, a girl called Amy tells all about her Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). Together with her friend Tom and sister Lucy, Amy explains how every child with APD is affected in unique ways, and how to get help if you have APD. This illustrated guide is ideal for helping children aged 7+ with APD to understand the condition, while increasing their self-esteem and confidence. Explaining about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and comorbidity in child-friendly terms, it dispels myths and encourages children to self-advocate and seek help at home and at school. It is also an excellent starting point for parents, teachers and other professionals wishing to tailor support to the type and severity of a child's APD, and includes a helpful list of recommended sources for additional support.
Contemporary Research Findings
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new window
Dr. Wolfe discusses research regarding Auditory Processing Delay and Dr. Sally Shaywitz's work on phonemic awareness in dyslexia.
Online Resources
- Communication, listening, cognitive and speech perception skills in children with auditory processing disorder (APD) or specific language impairment (SLI)Parental reports of communication, listening, and behavior in children receiving a clinical diagnosis of specific language impairment (SLI) or auditory processing disorder (APD) were compared with direct tests of intelligence, memory, language, phonology, literacy, and speech intelligibility. The primary aim was to identify whether there were differences between these characteristics in children with SLI or APD.
- Peeling the onion of auditory processing disorder: a language/curricular-based perspectiveThis article addresses auditory processing disorder (APD) from a language-based perspective. The author asks speech-language pathologists to evaluate the functionality (or not) of APD as a diagnostic category for children and adolescents with language-learning and academic difficulties. Suggestions are offered from a curriculum-relevant/strategic-based language approach that places APD symptoms within a broader framework and takes into account the complex interaction among the language knowledge, skills, and strategies needed for academic success.
- The Relationship between Types of Attention and Auditory Processing Skills: Reconsidering Auditory Processing Disorder DiagnosisMeasures of attention have been found to correlate with specific auditory processing tests in samples of children suspected of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), but these relationships have not been adequately investigated. Despite evidence linking auditory attention and deficits/symptoms of APD, measures of attention are not routinely used in APD diagnostic protocols. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between auditory and visual attention tests and auditory processing tests in children with APD and to assess whether a proposed diagnostic protocol for APD, including measures of attention, could provide useful information for APD management. A pilot study including 27 children, aged 7–11 years, referred for APD assessment was conducted. The validated test of everyday attention for children, with visual and auditory attention tasks, the listening in spatialized noise sentences test, the children's communication checklist questionnaire and tests from a standard APD diagnostic test battery were administered.
- Validity of the Multiple Auditory Processing Assessment-2: A Test of Auditory Processing Disorder.A normative study using the Multiple Auditory Processing Assessment-2 (MAPA-2; Schow et al., 2018) was recently completed. With access to these data, the authors extend that work and support a definite construct for auditory processing disorder (APD). The goal here is to examine MAPA-2 reliability and validity (construct, content, and concurrent). Evidence for the APD construct is further buttressed by measures of sensitivity and specificity. Results of MAPA-2 testing on children diagnosed with learning disability (LD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and specific language impairment (SLI) are included. Method: Normative data (previously published as the MAPA-2) allowing derivation of these findings included a representative sample of 748 children (53% girls) ages 7-14 years tested by 54 speech-language pathologists and audiologists in 27 U.S. states.
Causes of APD
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowEstimates state that 5% of the pediatric population has APD. Learn the difference between APD and hearing loss, and the causes of APD.
Websites
- Auditory Processing – What is It? (Hearing vs. Processing)-National Association for Child Development“Auditory processing”—We are hearing this term be referenced more and more, and an increasing number of children are being identified as having an ” auditory processing disorder.” But what does it actually mean? How can you have normal hearing and have an auditory processing disorder?
aud1First, let’s define “hearing.” The “peripheral hearing mechanism,” as it is referred to, includes the outer ear—where sound waves are collected, the middle ear—where sound is converted to mechanical energy, and the inner ear—containing the cochlea. Traditional hearing tests (audiograms) and tympanograms assess the integrity of this system. If this system is intact and functioning well, then your hearing should test normal. - Central Auditory Processing Disorder-American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationCentral auditory processing (CAP)—also seen in the literature as (central) auditory processing or auditory processing—is the perceptual processing of auditory information in the central auditory nervous system (CANS) and the neurobiological activity that underlies that processing and gives rise to electrophysiologic auditory potentials (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 2005).
- Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children-American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationIn recent years, there has been a dramatic upsurge in professional and public awareness of Auditory Processing Disorders (APD), also referred to as Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD). Unfortunately, this increase in awareness has resulted in a plethora of misconceptions and misinformation, as well as confusion regarding just what is (and isn't) an APD, how APD is diagnosed, and methods of managing and treating the disorder. The term auditory processing often is used loosely by individuals in many different settings to mean many different things, and the label APD has been applied (often incorrectly) to a wide variety of difficulties and disorders. As a result, there are some who question the existence of APD as a distinct diagnostic entity and others who assume that the term APD is applicable to any child or adult who has difficulty listening or understanding spoken language. The purpose of this article is to clarify some of these key issues so that readers are better able to navigate the jungle of information available on the subject in professional and popular literature today.
APD Assessment and Management
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowLearn several intervention and rehabilitation strategies for APD patients; multidisciplinary input is needed.