Here at Wickersley Audiology, we are often asked to test the hearing of younger people as they report they cannot hear in certain situations or environments.
But after completing a full, comprehensive audiological review the test results come back as hearing in the 'normal range' ... so why do we struggle?
One consideration is ...
Auditory processing disorder or APD as it will be known throughout this article, is the brain's inability to process complex sounds, especially when background noise exists.
For example, a group of friends talking in a busy/noisy cafe or restaurant (or even pub)
What is it?..
Auditory processing disorder (APD) often starts in childhood, but some people develop it later on in life.
Unfortunately, a hearing test alone cannot diagnose this condition but can determine if your hearing is working optimally or not.
However, due to the issue being the brain’s ability to process sounds (speech), further investigations via ENT are the best courses of action.
So what causes APD?..
APD usually starts in childhood, and isn’t fully understood what can actually cause it, but the leading theory is APD is caused by one (or more) of the following:
regular ear infections
genetics
head injury
complications at birth
APD is often found in people with attention, language, and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
How can APD be treated?..
There's no cure for auditory processing disorder (APD) but there are things that can help.
Treatment usually involves activities to improve listening and concentration.
This is called auditory training. You can do it with a hearing APD specialist or in your own time online.
To reduce background noise, schoolchildren with APD may be advised to wear a wireless earpiece that connects to a tiny microphone worn by their teacher.
Things you can do to help with auditory processing disorder (APD)
DO
talk face-to-face
use pictures and text
repeat or rephrase things if necessary
use carpet and soft furnishings to reduce room noise
Don't
do not cover your mouth when talking
do not talk in long complicated sentences
do not speak too fast or too slow
do not have background noise, like TV and radio
If you feel you may suffer from APD or know someone that might? we would always recommend a hearing test first, This will tell us if a hearing loss is to blame (or even partially)
This can be booked with us through our website or by contacting us on 01709 437250
This information has been collated from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/
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