What’s often missing from auditory processing disorder treatment? It’s the third and most important step. Most APD treatments focus on step one and two, and omit step three.
First, let’s address an important question.
What is auditory processing disorder?
Auditory processing disorder occurs when a person cannot match the sounds they hear to the sounds they know. It’s not an intellectual delay or a hearing problem.
For example, a student in class knows what a ‘p’ sound sounds like. He’s learned this. His hearing is excellent, but due to processing issues in his brain, when he hears the teacher say a ‘p’ sound he in fact hears a ‘b’ sound.
A person can have excellent hearing (their ears are sending the sound to their brain) but poor auditory processing (their brain doesn’t match up the sounds properly).
These students can benefit from help to take charge of their own learning, monitor their behaviour and progress and make adjustments along the way.
Why kids with auditory processing disorder struggle in the classroom
Did you know? In the classroom, up to 89% of instruction is spoken.
Online auditory processing disorder test
People aged 5 and above who meet the eligiblity requirements can enrol in our online auditory processing disorder test.
You need an iPad to complete this test at home.
The test is research validated and results are evaluated by professionals.
Why auditory processing disorder treatment is so important
It’s so important to treat Auditory Processing Disorders (APD). Untreated, APD can cause students to:
- forget instructions
- misunderstand what’s said
- be slow to respond, or
- drift off/tune out.
What is usually missing from an auditory processing disorder treatment
- breaking up instructions
- checking for understanding
- providing visual aids.
✅ Changing the environment to make listening easier.
Some examples include sitting at the front of the classroom, reducing noise and echo, and amplifying the teacher’s voice.
- But it requires actively training the brain to pay attention, to process quickly and accurately, and to remember learnt information.
- To achieve this, we use Fast ForWord, a program that’s proven to improve many areas of auditory processing.
- Fast ForWord is designed to change the brain, re-wiring it for listening, attention and memory.
References
How Much Should Teachers Talk in the Classroom? Much Less, Some Say by Catherine Gewertz
Learn more & contact us
Download APD info pack
Find out how to best help a student with APD, how to understand your child’s test results, and how Fast ForWord can help.
Learn about the Fast ForWord online program
Online auditory processing test
Easy, cost-effective auditory processing test for people aged 5 and above. Research validated and evaluated by speech pathologists and audiologists.
