What Is Auditory Processing Disorder? Definition of Auditory Processing Diagnosis Auditory processing disorder (or central auditory processing disorder/ CAPD) is the role the brain plays in the hearing process which ultimately enables us to develop learning skills. Since the majority of early learning is auditory, a weakness in how language is processed can lead to delayed development in a number of other learning skills, including reading which requires language dexterity. Auditory processing deficits are complicated because the cognitive skills involved are integrated and therefore hard to separate. Auditory Processing Disorder Symptoms Here are some of the common signs of auditory processing disorder in a checklist: Difficulty listening in the presence of background noise Exhaustion from listening in class Reading and/or spelling difficulties Speech therapy or language delays when young Difficulty with phonics and speech sound discrimination Poor auditory memory Often misunderstands what is said, needs information to be repeated Poor expressive language skills Slow or delayed response to verbal requests and instructions Poor auditory attention Difficulties Related to Auditory Processing Disorder Scientists are learning that auditory processing symptoms are present in a majority of children with learning difficulties, in three categories: reading, learning and language. Auditory Processing Related Reading Difficulties Efficient -- fast and accurate -- auditory processing skills help the clarity and breadth of phonological vocabulary, an essential reading skill. Hearing "cat" as one sound is enough to participate in conversation but to recognize it in text form requires "phonemic awareness" (definition: phonemes are the smallest components of sound that make up words) or being able to hear the component sounds of cat, i.e., "c-a-t." This opens the door to automaticity in reading and reading comprehension. Learning Skills Impacted By APD Auditory processing disorder can undermine a number of essential learning skills. It can cause inattentive attention deficit disorder, learning enjoyment and the ability to think critically, often described as the skill that defines eventual academic success. Over time, as skills are slowly learned, the signs of auditory processing disorder change. In young children the main clues are often behavioural -- unwillingness to engage, acting out when asked to do anything involving listening or reading. By primary school the signs of auditory processing disorder are much harder to detect, but their impact is no less severe. CAPD can undermine learning efficiency at every turn -- lower grades, reading reluctance and/or weak reading comprehension, difficulty engaging or keeping up in class, all culminating in homework frustration. 1
Language Issues From APD The first signs of auditory processing disorder picked up most parents are usually language related. Obvious difficult with pronunciation and vocabulary are directed related to APD. Other auditory processing symptoms such as difficulty following directions are sometimes harder to pick up. These languages related issues are often called language processing disorders. Homework Frustration And/Or Disappointing Grades In many cases, parents are not aware of an auditory processing disorder until the homework starts to pile up and it takes too long. Or a child who knows the material has disappointing grades. Language processing is the most fundamental of all learning skills -- we even think in English! Auditory processing problems undermine learning confidence and independence. Auditory Processing Impacts All Learning Central auditory processing disorder is a cognitive skill that, left untreated, undermines learning success throughout life in a number of ways. Auditory Processing Impacts Basic Learning Skills A number of basic learning tasks require sound auditory processing skills. Listening in class is perhaps the most obvious -- if the teacher is talking at 50 km/h and your child is only able to process at 45 km/h, a lot of instruction is missed. This difficulty also impedes development of other essentials skills, such as memory and attention stamina. As important, auditory processing disorder also impacts reading. In many cases, auditory processing makes learning to sound out challenging, leading to difficulty getting started with reading. Auditory Processing Impacts Thinking and Reasoning The extra concentration required for listening and reading for children with auditory processing disorder impedes the development of metacognition, the ability to think critically while reading or listening. A student that is preoccupied with basic decoding will not develop logic or reasoning skills. These are the skills that ultimately define academic success. About Auditory Processing Disorder Auditory processing disorders are responsible for a wide range of learning and reading issues and yet it is an unfamiliar term to most parents. Here is what you need to know about an auditory processing disorder diagnosis: Why Auditory Processing Disorders Are Common Auditory processing disorders are estimated to affect 17-20% of the population, most often going undiagnosed as the cause of a wide range of reading and learning skills. Processing language at natural language speed is one of the most demanding tasks the brain needs to learn. Many children do eventually learn to process accurately, but not automatically as is required for higher level skill development. Quick Key Facts Auditory processing disorder is a learning dysfunction that is not well understood. Most importantly, it is thought of as a spoken language disorder only. But because inefficient processing occupies so much mind space, its impact on learning is far more serious. Here are some things you may not have known: Auditory processing disorders are often referred to as central auditory processing disorders (CAPD) Auditory processing disorders can occur without any kind of hearing loss. In fact in most cases hearing is healthy Like all learning disabilities, auditory processing disorders can be a lifelong challenge if left untreated Auditory processing disorders may run in families 2
Auditory processing disorders can affect a person's ability to interact socially Many of the difficulties experienced by people with auditory processing disorders are also common in people with attention deficit disorders How Auditory Processing Impacts The School Day Enthusiasm for learning is inextricably tied to the daily educational experience. Auditory processing disorder can make for a miserable school day, erode confidence and undermine the love of learning we are all born with. For instance, consider these classic auditory processing disorder symptoms: If instruction is coming at a student faster then he or she can absorb it, the teacher will be hard to follow, making time in class exhausting, difficult or downright impossible. With CAPD children will habitually miss huge chunks of information, misunderstand or simply tune out. It may be hard to gather directions for homework assignments. Nuances of peer conversation and jokes may be hard to pick up, creating social discomfort. Reading is almost always affected by auditory processing difficulties, because it undermines development of phonological awareness required for fluent decoding, creating anxiety at reading time, reading math problems, etc. These symptoms and others undermine learning in a fundamental way leading to homework frustration and/or disappointing grades. Auditory processing is the most fundamental of all skills. Language is our learning operating system. Auditory processing disorder impacts dexterity and fluidity with language -- it slows down or creates noise in how we think. Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment Auditory processing disorder is a lifetime problem if left untreated. While early symptoms -- speech delays, difficulties with reading -- tend to fade over time as the skills are practiced hard at school and/or with tutors, the underlying disorder does not go away. It simply morphs from a visible difficulty into a less visible problem that creates learning inefficiencies at every step to undermine academic success. Auditory Processing In Children Learning Issues Undermined By APD Different Cases, Same Problem While every student presents differently -- due to differing IQs, personality traits, prior interventions, educational experience, and a host of other factors -- many reading and learning difficulties are caused by the same problem, namely, an inability to process language efficiently. This is most easily seen in: Weak listening comprehension. An inability to follow multi-step instruction and/or to follow the teacher in class and/or to deal comfortably with background noise and/or an exhausting school day. Poor reading skills. An inability to sound out words, i.e., to pick up the phonemes, the sounds inside words, required for natural reading. Language is incredibly complex, particularly the English language. The processing skills required to absorb the language in its various forms are demanding. Not surprisingly, many students fall short. This is why auditory processing problems lie at the heart of so many reading and learning issues. Left untreated, 3
these difficulties can be a lifetime affliction. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a complex problem. The term is used by many people, in very different ways. Auditory processing is a term used to describe what happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you. Humans hear when energy that we recognize as sound travels through the ear and is changed into electrical information that can be interpreted by the brain. The "disorder" part of auditory processing disorder means that something is adversely affecting the processing or interpretation of the information. Children with auditory processing problems often do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even though the sounds themselves are loud and clear. For example, if a teacher says "Canada is north of us" may sound to a child with APD like "Cambia is naught of us." It is these kinds of problems are more likely to occur when a person with APD is in a noisy environment or when he or she is listening to complex information. APD Impact on Learning Strong auditory processing in children is heavily correlated to grades, reading, homework behaviour and enjoyment of learning. It is a critical skill that underpins all learning. The consequences of auditory processing disorder on early learning are relatively obvious. If your child is not hearing you or his/her teachers or peers clearly, learning will be delayed. It also impacts expressive language -- vocabulary, articulation and relating stories -- often referred to as a language processing disorder. Over time almost all children with auditory processing disorder learn to listen more accurately, but only at great cost. They learn that they can process more accurately if they concentrate intently. There are two major problems with this coping strategy: Thinking while listening is weakened. The need to concentrate on listening means that your child has limited capacity to think about what he/she is hearing, to connect what is being said to other knowledge, to make inferences, and most importantly to think critically. This is called metacognition -- the ability to self-correct and analyze while listening or reading. Metacognition is a critical learning skill that is the difference between a pass or fail in high school. Learning is exhausting. If your child is working hard in class just to understand the words a teacher is saying, think how exhausting that must be; and all day long. Understandably, this exhaustion factor makes it hard to enjoy learning and difficult to maintain focus. Not surprisingly, auditory processing disorder in children is often diagnosed as an inattentive attention deficit disorder. Auditory processing disorder also impacts phonological awareness -- hearing the individual sounds that make up words -- an essential reading skill. In fact, the vast majority of reading problems stem from an underlying auditory processing difficulty. What are the Causes of Central Auditory Processing Disorder? The causes of Central Auditory Processing Disorder are often unknown, or even controversial. They may include head trauma, tumors, degenerative disorders, childhood viruses, recurring ear infections, oxygen deprivation, lead poisoning, brain development issues, or none of the above. In many children it comes down to an inability to develop the high speed and sophisticated processing skill required for language and/or reading. Central auditory processing disorder may manifest itself alongside other difficulties, such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder. The symptoms of central auditory processing disorder are diverse and often masked by other behaviors. What Kinds of Treatment Exist? Treatment usually focuses on three primary areas, changing the learning or communication environment, compensating for the disorder, and direct treatment. Environmental Change. The goal is to improve access to auditorily presented information. Electronic devices that assist listening, and methods of altering the learning environment so that the child with CAPD can focus his or her attention on the message, are used. Compensatory Strategies. The goal is to assist listeners in strengthening their central resources including 4
language, problem solving, memory, attention, and other skills. It teaches children to take responsibility for their own success or failure and encourages them to be active participants in daily listening activities through a variety of techniques. Direct Treatment. This approach tries to remediate the disorder itself, taking advantage of the brain's ability to adapt and change. Different strategies include computer-assisted auditory processing programs, listening protocols, and sometimes one-on-one training with a therapist. Is auditory processing hard-wired or can it be improved? AP skills can be improved. Scientists now know that the brain is plastic and all cognitive skills can be strengthened if exercised appropriately. The challenge is that the brain learns in an extremely integrated fashion and so individual skills are hard to isolate. Auditory processing skills are an exception however. The skill is easier to isolate because it involves the brain's interaction with an auditory signal. Reference: http://www.gemmlearning.com/fast_forword_auditory_processing.php 5