Understanding Auditory Processing Disability: Myths and Realities

Learning disabilities are tricky and complex. They are very different from physical abnormalities in many ways. 

For one, they are easier to diagnose. However, in the case of a learning disability, the physical body is usually ‘normal.’ It is the wiring of the brain that is different from the rest of us. Many kids with learning impairments are considered to be unmotivated, lazy, intentionally inattentive and very often, ‘stupid’ or ‘weird.’

“It is a lonely existence to be a child with a disability that no one can see or understand. You exasperate your teacher, you disappoint your parents, and, worst of all, you know that you are just not stupid,”  – exclaims Susan Hamilton, a specialist in learning disabilities.

But what is the confusion with Auditory Processing Disability, you ask? 

Many people confuse Auditory Processing Disorder with other learning disabilities, such as Autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Moreover, many people make the mistake of thinking that APD has something to do with physical hearing problems.

An APD is a learning disability that affects the listening capability of a child. This means that the child will have a hard time comprehending and distinguishing between different sounds. They have trouble processing information that is received through their ears. 

This makes it difficult for the child to stay attentive, especially when in a place with higher background noise. And can you think of any place a kid has to go regularly with high background noise? That’s right, a classroom. 

Most places such as playgrounds, classrooms, etc are a child’s favourite place to be however, these places would be extremely overwhelming for a kid who has APD.

In this article, we will try to understand the following aspects in detail

• What is Auditory Processing Disability?
• How are people with APD often misunderstood?
• In what ways a person who has APD can be misdiagnosed, and what are its repercussions?
• What is the right course of action for handling APD?

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory Processing Disorder is a condition in which the child is unable to appropriately perceive sounds originating from various sources. Usually, when a person is communicating with you, they have the ability to tune out the background noise, the overlapping sounds of another person speaking nearby, and ambient noise coming from other sources. Being able to distinctly recognise these sounds and concentrate on the ones that a person with APD wishes to listen to is challenging.

These issues manifest in their day-to-day life in the following ways.

• They have difficulty in learning the difference between similar-sounding words even when the word is pronounced clearly, such as the k and g sounds in English phonetics.
• They have trouble remembering simple instructions given verbally.
• Places with many overlapping sounds, such as playgrounds, classrooms, and social gatherings, are very overwhelming for the child.
• Getting tired after listening very easily
• Has poor listening skills and often gets distracted easily

Another symptom that many people tend to overlook is reading issues in children with APD. Since APD is associated with how the brain is not able to coordinate with auditory senses, it is easy to neglect this symptom. 

However, a study stated in their article on “Comorbidity of auditory processing, attention and memory in children with word reading difficulties” presented by Macquarie University, Sydney, showed that within the sample of 24 kids with reading difficulties and 28 children with no reading issues, more than 50% of children also had issues with auditory processing, memory retention and processing how words sound accurately. 

This could be a result of not being able to understand how to pronounce similar-sounding words, associate the right meaning to the words that rhyme or have similar connotations, and, as a result, make sense of a sentence. 

Students with APD have consistently shown to perform poorly in class as they are unable to follow what their teachers are instructing or teaching. At the same time, they might have reading difficulties and get distracted easily. 

This does not subside when they become adults. When a person with APD becomes an adult, they simply learn how to live with the disorder. However, growing up with a disorder should also come with the right diagnosis so that the person isn’t kept away from the same opportunities that a typically developing person obtains.

Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are needed so they can learn to manage their condition and eventually gain confidence while leading a quality life.

How Does Auditory Processing Disability Affect the Life of a Person?

A child with undiagnosed and untreated APD can grow up to have very low self-esteem. This is because, growing up, they are often treated as if they are less intelligent than their peers. The constant struggle to concentrate on different sounds and fail many times is frustrating, not just for them but for the people around them. 

Studies show that people with APD have difficulty in carrying out communication on call, are unable to comprehend complex instructions, and are unable to learn a new language. This automatically implies that as an adult, a person with Auditory Processing Disability would not be able to do a job efficiently that requires telephonic communication, acquire new skills through training, or settle in a country where they speak a different language. Removing these job opportunities leaves very few opportunities for them where they can perform well.

As a result, there have been multiple studies that suggest a direct relationship between people diagnosed with APD to have depression and anxiety. However, according to a study on perceptions of health care professionals towards different kinds, the negative attitude of mental health professionals toward people with learning disabilities needs a lot of improvement. 

The Australian government is taking active steps to help adults with disabilities feel included, simplify social participation and uphold their rights as Australian citizens. They have done so by launching Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031.

Misconceptions Around APD

In children with other difficulties, such as ADHD, the symptoms are almost the same. Kids, in both cases, are distracted and not attentive. A kid with ADHD chooses to ignore the surroundings, whereas a child with APD has a tough time tuning out background noise and concentrating on one sound. These are different causes creating the same outcome.

It must be noted that there is some relation that is observed between APD and ADHD. Some children have both these conditions simultaneously. However, this is not true in all cases. Therefore, if a child who has APD is diagnosed with ADHD because of many similar characteristics in both these conditions, the child will not receive the right input from their therapists to help them cope with their situation.

There are also discussions on associations between Special Language Impairment (SLI) and APD. In SLI, the child has difficulty in understanding or speaking the language. These children do not have a hearing loss of any kind and yet have issues in grasping their language. These are slightly different conditions.

As stated above, certain pre-existing conditions in a child can have similar symptoms as that of APD. Therefore, the diagnosis is only performed to confirm that there are no other disabilities in the child.

In all these cases of kids with different difficulties, it must be noted that each child would require a different course of treatment regardless of their diagnosis. Even if two kids have APD, their treatment to have a good handle on carrying out conversations or being attentive would be very different.

What are the Different Kinds of Treatments for APD

It is important to understand that in this context, treatment does not mean cure. There are various forms of therapies and exercises that help children with this condition to be able to perform better in class, interact with their peers and be able to better distinguish between sounds. Here are a few common ways of doing so:

• Electronic devices such as Tomatis® Infinite Headphones can help children with APD immensely. They can use this in class to help tune out background noises and concentrate on what they want to do better.
• A different approach that does not directly tackle the issue is helping them make their other skills stronger, usually, the ones that do not require constant listening. These could range from memory problem-solving, and building physical strength. 
• A speech therapy customised for the needs of APD children would be absolutely necessary for them to learn to speak and eventually listen properly.
• Other ways to help them is music therapy. You can try the TalksUp® from Tomatis® Method headphones for a person having APD to help them cope better.

Be Your Child’s Support System

Your child has a different way of learning things and should be able to find a way to be as functional as any other child. He or she can learn to be present in classrooms, conversations and regular life with the help of the Tomatis® Method. Our course has been shown to improve cognitive skills, listening abilities and, most importantly, the mental health of children from all age groups. 

We provide a support system in a non-invasive therapeutic way to help children with auditory learning disorders. By joining us on this journey, you can support your child to become capable of performing well academically, interacting with his peers, making friends, and, most importantly, finding his or her personal strengths. 

Here at Australia Tomatis® Method, your child learns to build pathways in his brain that makes him or her more capable of listening better and being more attentive. 

We understand that each child with learning difficulties needs a unique approach. Our attempts are to find ways to help your child that is in tune with their rhythm. 

So do not hesitate to contact Tomatis® professionals in Sydney, Australia, who can help your child with APD be socially more participative. 

Have you noticed any symptoms in your child that we discussed in this article? Write down in the comment section.