AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER IN CHILDREN
Specialist Audiologist & Speech Language Pathologist
AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER
Did you know that auditory processing disorders affect approximately 5% of school aged children. Auditory processing disorder (APD) is essentially when the brain doesn't understand or interpret what it hears in the way we need it to.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF APD?
Symptoms of APD can be seen in different areas, including listening abilities, speaking, phonological awareness and higher order processes such as attention, memory and learning. The most common symptoms are listed below:
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Difficulty hearing where background noise is present, such as in the classroom
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Difficulty following verbal instructions (especially multiple step directions)
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Speech and language difficulties
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Regularly misunderstanding what is said, but not recognising the error
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Difficulty with phonics and learning to read
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Reduced attention and reduced ability to focus
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Regularly asking the speaker to repeat themselves
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Difficulty remembering information that has been heard
WHAT HAPPENS IF AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER IS LEFT UNTREATED?
If left untreated APD may lead to academic deficits in areas such as phonics, reading, and spelling. Children heavily rely on the ability to process auditory information to learn within the classroom environment. Not been able to do so often leads to reduced academic performance and learning. Thus, early identification and intervention is strongly recommended.
THE GOOD NEWS..... with early identification and intervention, children with APD CAN be successful in school and daily life. Fernandez Hearing offers comprehensive APD assessment and management. At Fernandez Hearing, children will have the benefit of been assessed and treated by our clinician who has a masters in Clinical Audiology as well as a maters in Speech-Language Pathology, with over 20 years of experience.
Raquel Fernandez
Principal Audiologist & Speech Language Pathologist
HOW IS APD DIAGNOSED?
To determine if your child has APD, a range of auditory processing tests must be performed by an audiologist. The test results are then integrated and are compared to normative data to determine a diagnosis. At Fernandez Hearing, your child will have the benefit of been assessed by our clinician with dual master qualifications in Audiology and Speech Pathology.
Our comprehensive APD test battery is aimed at identifying problems with listening skills; particularly in the classroom which can impact learning. We test for deficits for which we know there is evidence-based management. Additional individualised auditory and language processing assessments will also be administered according to your child’s initial results and presenting difficulties in order to path the way forward for a constructive and clear remediation program.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS APD?
If you suspect that your child may have APD, please email info@fernandezhearing.com.au to schedule an assessment, phone 6317 9394 or simply click the contact us button below: