What is Auditory Processing?
Auditory processing refers to the brain’s ability to make sense of the sounds it
receives. It involves skills such as:
- Discriminating between sounds
- Recognizing patterns in sounds
- Filtering background noise
- Understanding and remembering verbal information
When someone has an auditory processing disorder (APD), these skills may
be impaired, even though their hearing is normal.
What are signs of auditory processing difficulties?
- Trouble following spoken instructions
- Difficulty focusing in or overwhelmed by noisy environments
- Asking for repetition often (“What did you say?”)
- Misunderstands words or phrases and/or misses what is said
- Problems with reading, spelling, or language comprehension
- Negative reaction to unexpected sounds or loud noises
- Slow to respond to verbal questions and/or instructions
- Reverses sounds or letters
Who should get tested?
Auditory processing evaluations are typically recommended for individuals who have difficulty understanding or processing sounds, despite having normal hearing. We can assess auditory processing in preschool age children through adulthood. People who may benefit from an evaluation include:
- Children with learning difficulties – kids who struggle with reading, spelling, or following verbal instructions may have auditory processing disorder (APD)
- People who frequently mishear words – if someone often asks others to repeat themselves or misunderstands spoken words
- Children or adults with difficulty understanding speech in noisy places (like classrooms or restaurants)
- Sometimes individuals with attention or listening difficulties actually struggle with auditory processing
What happens during an assessment?
We utilize thoroughly researched, standardized audiological tests to assess several aspects of auditory processing, including the ability to hear in background noise, the ability to make out muffled or unclear words, the ability to listen while multiple people are speaking, the ability to decode more complex linguistic information, the ability to remember and organize what is heard, and more. The process involves:
- Hearing Test – To rule out hearing loss, unless recently assessed.
- Auditory Skill Evaluations – Tests for sound discrimination, pattern recognition, and auditory memory.
- Listening in Noise Tests – To assess how well sounds are understood in challenging environments.
After the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report outlining the results and recommendations. Based on the findings, we can work with you to develop personalized strategies and interventions such as:
- Auditory training exercises
- Environmental modifications (e.g., minimizing background noise)
- Referrals for speech or occupational therapy, if needed
What is an Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a hearing problem that affects about 3-5% of school-aged children. Kids with this condition, also know as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), can’t understand what they hear in the same way other kids do. This is because their ears and brain don’t fully coordinate. Something interferes with the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, especially speech.
Individuals with an Auditory Processing Disorder can have difficulty functioning in a variety of listening environments. APD is different from conventional hearing loss, which occurs when the ear is unable to pick up sound. People with hearing loss require a specific type of treatment by an audiologist, which often includes hearing aids or other assistive devices. In the case of APD, the ears are functioning correctly and instead, the individual’s listening difficulties are due to processing that occurs at the level of the brainstem and/or brain.
There are many variations of APD, and one person with APD could face very different challenges than another person with APD. Processing auditory information requires the brain to perform several skills at once, including managing differing sounds coming into the two ears, decoding complex language, recognizing muffled sounds, listening to one voice while ignoring others, remembering and organizing what is heard, and more. While one person with APD might have difficulty hearing amid background noise, another person might have difficulty remembering what they hear, background noise or not. APD can present unique challenges not only in the educational environment, but in a variety of other social settings, including at home and in extra-curricular activities.
schedule your assessment today
Take the first step toward clearer communication and better understanding.
Contact us to schedule an auditory processing assessment or to learn more about how we can help.