Do you tell your child to "raise your hand," but all he hears is "look at the sky"? Or do you say, "Look at the cows over there," but the child asks, "There's a clown on the chair?" Have you experienced things like this? Sometimes we think our child isn't listening to us and is just doing it out of spite. But that's not always the case. This could be due to a condition we're talking about today called Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD for short.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?
Simply put, APD is not a hearing loss or a learning disability. What happens here is that, although the ears hear sounds well, there is some weakness in the process of getting that sound to the brain and understanding it correctly . This means that the problem is not with the ears, but with the way the brain recognizes sound information.
Imagine someone says to you, "Please raise your hand." To someone with APD, it might sound like "Please haze your plan." They have trouble recognizing the subtle sound differences in words.
Although this condition can affect anyone of any age, it most often begins in childhood. According to surveys, between 2% and 7% of children have this condition, and it is more common in boys than girls . This can cause some delays in schoolwork. As a result, children with APD need a little extra help at school.
Sometimes, a child may have dyslexia (reading difficulties) and APD to some extent. Also, some doctors believe that some children are misdiagnosed as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) when they actually have APD.
What are the symptoms of this condition?
APD can affect the way a child speaks, reads, writes, and pronounces words. They may cut off the ends of words when they speak, or mix up sounds that sound the same. Let's take a closer look at these symptoms.
| Affected sector | Symptoms that indicate |
|---|---|
| Conversations and communication | It's hard to understand what someone is saying and respond quickly. It's especially difficult to understand what someone is saying when there's a group of people talking together, or when it's a little too loud. |
| Following instructions | It's hard to remember instructions someone gives you, especially if they involve multiple steps (e.g., "Go to your room, pick up the book on the table, and bring it to the living room"). |
| Sound recognition | It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact direction a sound is coming from. Listening to music can sometimes be a bit unpleasant. |
| Education | There may be problems with reading, writing, and spelling. Letters that sound alike may be confused. |
What are the causes of APD?
Doctors still don't know the exact cause of this condition, but there are several factors that are thought to contribute to its occurrence.
- Chronic illnesses: Chronic ear infections, meningitis, or lead poisoning can all contribute to the development of APD later in life. Some people with neurological diseases , such as multiple sclerosis, have also developed the condition.
- Problems at birth: Being born prematurely (premature birth) or having low birth weight.
- Head injuries: Head injuries from an accident.
- Heredity : If this condition runs in the family, there may be a tendency for the child to also develop it. That is, there may be a genetic influence (`Genes`).
How do I find this exactly?
If you have any concerns about your child, the first thing you should do is visit your family doctor . The doctor will do a simple hearing test to check if your child has any hearing problems. This can help determine if there is a hearing loss problem.
But only an audiologist can accurately confirm the condition of APD.
The audiologist performs a series of special tests for this purpose.
- Here, the child is made to listen to various sounds through `headphones` and is asked to respond to those sounds (e.g., repeat the word they heard, or press a button).
- Sometimes, several painless electrodes are attached to the child's head and ears to measure how the child's brain responds to sounds.
This APD test is not usually administered to children under the age of 7, because the answers given by children at a younger age may not be as accurate.
How is it treated?
The first thing to remember is that there is no cure for APD. However, with proper management and treatment, a child can be helped to live with the condition very successfully. Treatment options vary from person to person. These are the main areas of focus.
- Classroom support: Electronic devices such as `FM (frequency modulation) system` can be used. This is like a small radio. What the teacher says through a microphone is heard clearly through a small device in the child's ear without any external noise. Also, teachers can do things like seat the child at the front of the class and reduce unnecessary external noise.
- Developing other skills: Developing other learning skills, such as memory and problem-solving, can help a child overcome the challenges posed by APD.
- Therapy: Speech therapy is a very important treatment. It helps the child to recognize different sounds correctly, pronounce words clearly, and develop conversational skills.
Things we can do at home
It is also very important to make the home environment comfortable for the child. Putting rugs or carpets on the floor can reduce the echo (sound) in the room. Also, when talking to the child, turning off loud things like the TV and radio, looking at the child's face, and speaking slowly and clearly is also a big help.
Take-Home Message
- APD is not a hearing problem, but a problem with the brain's ability to process sounds.
- Before assuming that your child is not listening or paying attention, seek medical advice if you suspect this is the case.
- For an accurate diagnosis, it is essential to first see your doctor, and then, if necessary, an audiologist.
- Although there is no specific cure for this condition, with speech therapy, support at school, and at home, the child can lead a normal, successful life.
- You are not alone in this journey. With the right guidance and support, you can overcome this challenge.
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