The following information is from Little Listeners, a full-service auditory clinic focused on the entire auditory development system—from birth through adulthood. Metro Music Makers has been honored to partner with Little Listeners for almost 15 years, providing music therapy to children experiencing auditory problems including auditory processing disorder (APD) and related diagnoses.
If you suspect your child might have APD, we highly suggest you contact Little Listeners. You may also reach out to our team of music therapists who can also connect you with Little Listeners.
As a parent or teacher, you want your children to succeed in school. However, according to KidsHealth, 5% of children are affected by Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). Children with this disorder have trouble processing what they hear due to incoordination between what they hear and how their Central Nervous System interprets the information. Children with APD usually have normal hearing, but their brain doesn’t understand the sounds themselves. APD can seriously affect a child’s performance inside and outside of school, allowing them to fall behind their peers. Here are some signs to look for if you suspect your child may have APD:
- They have trouble distinguishing similar sounding words (for example, bee and bean).
- They have trouble understanding speech in noisy environments.
- They have trouble remembering what was said to them.
- They have trouble remembering the order of sounds in a word.
- They ask for you to repeat what you said frequently.
- They are easily distracted by other noises.
- They struggle with learning songs or verbal directions.
- They find reading and spelling difficult.
If your child exhibits these symptoms, visit the websites below for more information and contact an audiology clinic for an evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent your child from struggling with a treatable issue.
Resources:
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/auditory-processing-disorder
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/central-auditory.html
http://www.ncapd.org/What_is_APD_.html