Auditory Processing Disorder | Audiologist in San Diego

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) also referred to as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a blanket term used to describe abnormalities in the processing of acoustic information between the ear and the brain. Essentially, it is a description of what the brain does with what it hears. Interruptions in processing auditory signals often leads to difficulty recognizing and interpreting speech correctly and this task becomes even more difficult in the presence of background noise. The good news is, when identified early and treated with the right therapy, individuals can be successful in overcoming the challenges of APD.

Signs of (C)APD

Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder vary greatly across individuals and can take on several forms. Below are a list of most common behaviors associated with APD.

~ Easily distracted or bothered by background noise.

~Difficulty following verbal directions

~Difficulty focusing attention

~Difficulty hearing in noisy social settings like parties and sporting events

~Difficulty remembering and comprehending spoken information

Testing for (C)APD

There are a wide variety of tests available to evaluate the function of the central auditory nervous system. We provide a comprehensive test battery that evaluates specific areas of cortical processing in order to guide the development of a management plan that is customized for each patient.. We use age normed tests for children aged 7 and older. The appointment time for a comprehensive evaluation is 2 hours. We value a collaborative approach to the treatment of children with APD and will discuss recommendations based on the outcomes of each exam.