Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition that affects how speech is heard and understood.

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

In children with APD, there is a disconnect in the way that the ears and the brain coordinate with one another, making it difficult for them to process sounds in the same way as children without APD.

Children with APD can have problems with their metaliguistic skills and their language dexterity. What exactly does this mean for how APD affects the lives of children, and are there hearing solutions in Calgary for children with APD? Let's take a look.

How Does APD Effect Children?

Children with APD have a difficult time understanding that words can have multiple meanings because it is harder for them to figure out the meaning of a word based on context. They tend to take language literally and are not always able to understand non-literal language such as puns and metaphors.

Because of these difficulties, APD can have a significant impact on a child's relationships and on how they perform in school. Not understanding the nuances of a conversation can put a strain on their interactions with others, and having a hard time distinguishing sounds and focusing on words can make traditional classroom instruction ineffective.

What Are the Symptoms of APD? The symptoms of APD can range in severity from child to child. Some will show only a few symptoms, while others can show several. Here are among the more common symptoms of APD:

• Difficulty following the course of a conversation.

• Difficulty following directions.

• Confusing similar sounds.

• Trouble developing reading, writing, and spelling skills.

• Being easily distracted and bothered by background noise.

• Performing much better on tasks when in a quiet environment.

• Trouble understanding jokes or remembering details of stories.
  

Are There Techniques to Help Children with APD?

APD, especially if it is noticed early on, can be very responsive to a number of techniques and strategies. With time and with the proper professional attention, children with APD can develop a higher level of language dexterity.

While you should definitely seek the help of a Calgary hearing professional, at home you can help your child by playing games such as Simon Says or doing crossword puzzles with them. If you can get enough people together, it can also be beneficial to play the telephone game, which tests the listener's ability to recognize and discriminate between sounds.

Hearing Solutions in Calgary for Children with APD

If you suspect that your child may have APD, then we encourage you to bring them to Calgary's Soundwave Hearing Care. Our team of professional audiologists have decades of experience performing an auditory processing assessments and providing customized hearing solutions for children in Calgary who have APD.

The sooner that APD is tested for and diagnosed, the sooner your child can benefit from high-quality, specialized treatments and strategies. Schedule an appointment with Soundwave Hearing Care today, and you can rest assured knowing that your child's needs will be well looked after.