Auditory Processing Disorder Assessment

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What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), affects approximately 5% of school-aged children. APD occurs when the ear and brain don’t work together properly to process auditory information. Children with APD have difficulty interpreting sounds, even though their hearing is typically normal. This means they can hear sounds, but their brain has trouble making sense of what those sounds mean.

Affected children and adults cannot correctly process auditory information, resulting in difficulty detecting subtle differences between sounds in words. APD can affect language development and learning to read. Learners with APD are generally of average to above-average intelligence, and APD is not generally associated with hearing loss.

The exact cause of APD is unknown, but it involves the neural pathways of the central auditory nervous system. There is increasing evidence that for many children, it is likely a developmental delay; the children still need to develop better and strengthen the neural connections and pathways required for complex listening. There is also evidence that children who have experienced repeated episodes of glue ear, or middle ear fluid when young, may be particularly susceptible to APD later.

Signs and Symptoms of APD?

There are several behaviours to look out for as possible signs of an auditory processing disorder, but it is important to note that these same issues could also be caused by something else. Behaviours to look out for include:

• Difficulty following speech in noisy environments
• Literacy, or general academic development concerns
• Difficulty following conversations or a series of instructions
• Language and/or speech delays
• Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
• Appearing to be disorganised or forgetful
• Behaving better in quiet environments compared to noisy ones

What to expect in an Auditory Processing assessment?

True Hearing specialises in APD assessments for children (7+) and adults across several suburban clinics. The assessment is split into two 1-hour appointments. There is a Medicare rebate available when referred by your GP or Paediatrician. During the assessment, your child will complete several listening game tasks to assess the different domains of APD.

Please bring any reports from a speech pathologist, educational psychologist, behavioural optometrist or school reports along to the appointment. You will be required to fill in our APD questionnaire prior to the appointment booking.

Auditory Processing Disorders can be diagnosed and treated in various ways. True Hearing uses a method first developed by Professor Harvey Dillon at Macquarie University. This approach examines each aspect of Auditory Processing separately and uses evidence-based remediation strategies to address specific deficits.

The appropriate management program for APD depends on the type of deficit diagnosed and varies for each child. Options may include assistive listening devices to improve listening in the classroom, as well as computer-based auditory training programs that aim to strengthen the listening deficit and neural pathways.

Auditory Processing Assessments

• Listening in Spatialised Noise (LiSN-S): Assesses the ability to understand sentences in competing speech.
• Auditory Memory: Assesses auditory memory and evaluates the ability to remember and repeat back a number pattern in forward and reverse order.
• Dichotic Listening:  Assesses the ability to integrate sounds from both ears by asking the patient to repeat back different numbers presented to both ears simultaneously.
• Language: Assesses the ability use their knowledge of language to attempt to fill in the gaps in sentences.
• Frequency Pattern: Assesses temporal processing ability by asking a child to describe the patterns of tones that they hear.

We currently offer APD testing at our Camberwell and Rowville locations. Given the length and complexity of the testing process, we recommend scheduling these appointments in the morning. Morning sessions allow for better concentration and endurance, both of which are essential for accurate testing results. Due to the time allotment, a deposit may be needed to secure a booking.

At the end of the assessment, the audiologist will review the results with you, discuss recommendations, and address any questions you may have. A written report will be provided at a later date, outlining the findings and including recommendations for any further investigations and/or appropriate management or intervention.