About Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory processing disorder can be misdiagnosed because symptoms can mimic other disorders or are overshadowed by other problems, like learning disabilities, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism. It is best to rule out these concerns before being evaluated for APD. We can assess children with these diagnoses to look for areas of weakness, but we cannot label APD as a standalone disorder in these cases.
APD testing is recommended for:
- Children ages seven and up
- Children and adults with normal hearing
What to Expect During Evaluation
For children:
- First they will see a pediatric audiologist, who will administer a comprehensive hearing test to rule out hearing loss and middle ear dysfunction. If your child's hearing was already assessed elsewhere, our team will review the results before scheduling an APD assessment.
- APD evaluations for children require both an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist. You may see both on the same day or on two separate days. They will evaluate expressive and receptive language and cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, memory, and attention. Specific auditory processing tests will be chosen based on your child’s age and developmental level.
For adults:
- We will ask you to complete questionnaires and discuss your medical history. We’ll also test your hearing and listening skills (for example, listening when there is background noise, competing information, fast rates of speech, and more) and perform your APD evaluation during the same appointment. Afterward, we’ll discuss your results, any auditory processing weaknesses we found, and recommendations for managing them.
Auditory Processing Disorder Management
An audiologist will review areas of difficulties identified during testing and explain the potential impact on everyday communication in the workplace, classroom, or at home. When appropriate, we’ll coordinate your care with other specialists throughout Duke.
- Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors, also called otolaryngologists, may explore concerns about hearing loss, middle ear fluid, or ear anatomy.
- Psychologists or psychiatrists can address attention or hyperactivity concerns and look for other conditions that could be affecting processing abilities.
- Specialists in reading and psychoeducation can help you and your family better understand and cope with APD and identify weak areas that are influencing processing.
Intervention Programs and Auditory Training
Communication and learning strategies, environmental modifications (for example, strategic seating or using an FM (frequency modulation) system to reduce background noise and listening fatigue), and auditory training tasks may be recommended for you or your child. Auditory training may include software-based programs designed to improve your or your child’s ability to understand sounds and to improve communication.
