Auditory Processing Disorder
An Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a complex disorder that affects an individual’s ability to understand and make sense of what they hear. When an individual’s brain perceives something different than what is heard, it becomes difficult to correctly process information being heard. For children, it may be difficult for them to understand stories and follow directions. ADP is often confused with ADHD, autism, hearing loss, or other learning disabilities, but it is important to distinguish it for proper treatment and therapy.
Four auditory processing skills that people with APD may struggle with:
- Auditory discrimination: noticing, comparing, and distinguishing between separate sounds
- Auditory figure-ground discrimination: focusing on the important sounds in a noisy setting
- Auditory memory: recalling what you’ve heard, either immediately or in the future
- Auditory sequencing: understanding and recalling the order of sounds and word
It’s not clear what causes APD, however, the difficulties impact people of all ages.
How Can Granite Bay Speech Help?
Here at Granite Bay Speech, we are experts at diagnosing and treating Auditory Processing Disorders. With over 30 years of experience, we have helped families resolve the frustration that occurs from Auditory Processing Disorders and build up relationships with better communication. Our Speech-Language Therapists are prepared to provide a number of interventions and customize therapy sessions to meet each client’s individual needs. Speech therapy for APD is essential in helping clients improve their skills in distinguishing, remembering, and sequencing sounds.
