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Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) describes a breakdown in the hearing process whereby our brain cannot make sense of what our ears hear, because the auditory signal is distorted in some way, leading to persistent challenges in daily life.

APD describes when a person’s auditory system has an impaired ability to process and apply meaning to sound. It can manifest in an inability to utilise directional cues embedded in sound in order to separate the speech we want to hear from background noise. People with APD struggle to comprehend information that is highly detailed, is delivered quickly or in a noisy environment because they haven’t developed the ability to separate speech from noise and focus on sounds but suppress the noise.

APD can present inconsistently. Information that is readily processed some days, may not be understood on others.

APD is distinct from:

  • Hearing – People with APD generally hear sound well but have difficulty applying meaning to it

  • Intelligence – APD is a deficiency with a specific auditory function and is not caused by or directly related to intellectual capacity

APD is often present from early childhood and becomes more noticeable as the child grows older and conversation becomes more complex and is delivered more quickly. The condition is common in people with a history of ear infections as a child and in people with a permanent hearing loss.

APD is often accompanied by and exacerbates other conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, development/learning delay, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Auditory Processing relies on our ability to analyse and interpret information that our ears hear. The capacities we need to complete these tasks form the basis of the following skills:

  • Decoding

  • Auditory discrimination

  • Listening in noise

  • Integration

  • Organisation

  • Spatial processing

  • Binaural processing

  • Auditory Memory

If APD is suspected, assessment will involve a variety of specialised audiological tests. Mackay Hearing offers comprehensive APD assessment and thorough treatment plans

If you would like more information on APD symptoms and testing options, please contact our friendly local team directly on 4952 4946 or email us at listening@mackayhearing.com.au.

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