Symptoms of an Auditory Processing Disorder - 2008-09-21
Symptoms of an Auditory Processing Disorder can range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. If you think there may be a problem with how your child processes what he or she hears, ask yourself these questions:
* Is my child easily distracted or unusually bothered by loud or sudden noises?
* Are noisy environments upsetting to my child?
* Does my child's behavior and performance improve in quieter settings?
* Does my child have difficulty following directions, whether simple or complicated ones?
* Does my child have reading, spelling, writing, or other speech-language difficulties?
* Is abstract information difficult for my child to comprehend?
* Are verbal (word) math problems difficult for my child?
* Is my child disorganized and forgetful?
* Are conversations hard for my child to follow?
These, as well as other behaviors, may be signs of an auditory processing disorder (APD). It's an often-misunderstood problem because many of the behaviors noted above may also appear in other conditions such as learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even depression.
Children with APD can have a coexisting disorder - the most commonly seen is ADHD. Although APD is often confused with ADHD, it is possible to have both.
You may want to consider one of our listening and learning improvement programs to develop the processing skills you’ll need to be successful. You'll gain confidence.
Don Harris, MS, CCC-SLP
Certified Speech Language Pathologist
www.SpeechAndListening.com
