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Did What You Hear Make Sense?
Auditory processing disorder (APD) is difficulty understanding what we hear even if our hearing is within typical thresholds. Research is limited on APD, which is why individuals can often be undiagnosed and unaware of why they are struggling with listening skills. APD can be presented in children and adults and is sometimes found in those with learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) or other diagnoses (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
The sound we hear is processed by the auditory system which is divided into two parts: the peripheral and central auditory systems. These systems receive, conduct, and analyze the auditory information we hear. A diagnosis can be provided when one or more of the following is affected: sound discrimination, localization, lateralization, pattern recognition, temporal aspects, and competing or degraded sound signals. Basically, there is a mismatch between what we hear and how the brain makes sense of it.
APD affects the quality of life in areas of communication, academics, and psychosocial well-being. Treatment is an interdisciplinary approach where audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and family work together to manage and improve auditory processing skills. Intervention can include auditory training, language and cognitive strategies. Therapy can also teach individuals compensatory techniques, remediation for direct skills, and provide modifications in their environment.
Reference
Alanazi A. A. (2023). Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: A Narrative Review. Saudi journal of medicine & medical sciences, 11(4), 275–282.
https://doi.org/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_218_23/
