Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Definition
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a persistent limitation of performance-impairing abilities in acoustic signal processing that can not be explained solely by impaired hearing sensitivity. An auditory processing disorder, for example, refers to a set of performance limitations in terms of perception, auditory discrimination, identification of auditory patterns, and sequential organization. (definition proposed by the ad hoc committee of the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Quebec on the review of practices concerning auditory processing disorder – 2007).
Symptoms
Typically, a child or adult with an APD will have normal hearing, but will have difficulty in analyzing and integrating the auditory information. For example, a person could be much more disturbed than another by the presence of background noise and unable to extract the relevant verbal message from a noisy background.
APD can also affect other skills such as, for example, the perception of tone (someone who is said to have no « ear »).
APD may be due to delayed maturation of the auditory system, may be hereditary or may be caused by head trauma.
Evaluation
It is usually completed in a session of about 2 hours at our clinic during which different tests are performed.
This assessment can be completed from the age of 7 years old and includes, of course, the passing of a peripheral auditory test to ensure the integrity of the hearing of the child or adult. A full report is then written by the audiologist and recommendations are made.
If the presence of an auditory processing disorder is identified, a personalized and specific rehabilitation to the difficulties identified is then proposed.
The use of an FM system as a therapeutic tool is often recommended, especially for children in school settings.