Auditory
Processing Disorder
There
are at least four types of Central
Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD):
Difficulty
understanding speech that is
accented, muffled, or
inarticulate
Difficulty
understanding speech in
background noise
Difficulty
understanding speech at the rate
it is spoken
Difficulty
paying attention to one
conversation while ignoring
others
Important
things to remember about CAPD:
Auditory
processing disorder have nothing
to do with hearing; a child with
CAPD may or may not be hearing
impaired
Auditory
processing disorders can render a
child functionally deaf in
certain situations
Some
auditory processing disorders are
caused by abnormal wiring in
areas of the brain that process
the meaning or sounds of language
Some
auditory processing disorders are
related to slow sensory
processing in the brain
Auditory
processing disorders can be
caused by sensory deprivation
(e.g. due to ear infections or
blocked Eustachian tubes in the
first few months of life),
exposure to toxins, heavy metals,
or viruses, or brain injury
Some
auditory processing disorders are
treatable, but rehabilitation
requires persistent effort for
many years
CAPD often
appears together with vestibular
(SI) dysfunctions
Symptoms
of CAPD:
Misunderstand
what was said
Ask
“huh?” or
“what?” repeatedly
Seem
inattentive or easily distracted
Seem
lethargic or hyperactive
Have
difficulty learning to read or
spell
Have
difficulty writing (dysgraphia)
Have
difficulty understanding what
they read
Become
easily upset or angry
Misinterpret
social cues (e.g. tone of voice,
context, gestures, facial
expressions, etc.)
Be
unable to sit still when
listening to someone speak
Have
difficulty looking at a face when
listening to someone speak
Have
difficulty looking at a face when
explaining or describing
something or when answering a
question
© Copyright, Brain
Training Associates 2004
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