Description

Auditory processing disorder, also called ODA, is a type of hearing loss is caused by something that affects the part of the brain that processes listening. The damage in the ear are the cause of other types of hearing loss.

APD is also sometimes called central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). It can occur in any person. But it occurs most often in children and older adults.

Many conditions can affect how well a person understands what they hear, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism. But these are conditions that are different from auditory processing disorder, though they can appear with APD . APD can also occur with other types of hearing loss.

Auditory processing disorder has no cure. But treatments can help you hear better.

Symptoms

The symptoms of auditory processing disorder (APD) can be subtle. Symptoms may include having trouble with:

  • To tell you the source of the sound.
  • The knowledge of the words that are spoken quickly or in a noisy place.
  • Paying attention.
  • The reading and the spelling.
  • Following the instructions, unless you are short and simple.
  • Learning a new language.
  • Sing or enjoy the music.
  • Understand and remember the information spoken.

If you have APD , you can also:

  • Take more time to respond to someone who is talking with you.
  • Often the need for others to repeat themselves.
  • Don't understand sarcasm or jokes.

The DPA is often seen with attention, language, and learning of topics such as those seen in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

When to see a doctor

If you have difficulty hearing or understanding what you hear, talk with a health care professional.

Causes

The cause of auditory processing disorder (APD) is sometimes unknown. APD can be linked to many conditions. In older adults, the conditions may include the blow or trauma to the head. In children, APD may be linked to problems at birth, such as low birth weight or preterm birth, or repeated ear infections.

In normal hearing, the brain of the middle ear takes the sound waves sent from the ears and transforms them into sounds that you know. But with auditory processing disorder (APD), the auditorium of the part of the brain can't do this.

Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of auditory processing disorder (APD), which include:

  • Aging.
  • Stroke.
  • Trauma to the head.
  • Lead poisoning.
  • Seizure disorders.
  • Issues related to birth, such as a premature birth, low birth weight or a pregnant person the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.
  • Repeated infections of the ear, especially at an early age.

Complications

Auditory processing disorder (APD) complications include:

  • Difficulty understanding what people are saying.
  • Problems to take part in the activities.
  • The feeling of isolation and loneliness.
  • Difficulty reading and writing in children.
  • Problems to do well in school.
  • Feeling depressed.

Diagnosis

To diagnose auditory processing disorder (APD), your health care team may ask you questions about your symptoms and how long you have had them, as well as the order of the tests.

Various specialists on your health care team can help diagnose you or your child with auditory processing disorder (APD). For children, the team might include teachers, who are seen in the learning and attention problems. For children and adults, the team might include mental health professionals, called psychologists, which looks at how the mind works. And speech-language pathologists can be seen in the use of language.

A hearing specialist called an audiologist can do tests to see what is happening when you or your child to listen to sounds. These tests may include:

  • Tympanometry. This test can indicate if the eardrum is not moving well. The eardrum need to move to a good hearing. For this test, the audiologist places soft probe in the ear canal. Then you send the small fragments of air pressure into the ear. The probe measures the amount the eardrum moves in response to the air.
  • Test of acoustic reflex. This test shows what happens in the ear, when he hears a loud sound.
  • Auditory brainstem response.This test shows how well the inner ear, the cochlea, and the brain pathways for hearing are working. An audiologist places sensors around the ear and the head. The sensors are connected to a computer. Short clicking sounds via headphones has been used during the test. The computer records how the nerves between the ears and the brain responds to sounds.
  • Evoked potential test.This test indicates the way in which the sound travels along the nerves that connect the ear to the brain. For this test, an audiologist places sensors in the head. The sensors are connected to a computer. Short clicking sounds via headphones has been used during the test. This allows the audiologist to see how the sound travels to different parts of the brain. It also shows if something is blocking the nerves that connect the ear to the brain.

Auditory brainstem response. This test shows how well the inner ear, the cochlea, and the brain pathways for hearing are working. An audiologist places sensors around the ear and the head. The sensors are connected to a computer.

Short clicking sounds via headphones has been used during the test. The computer records how the nerves between the ears and the brain responds to sounds.

Evoked potential test. This test indicates the way in which the sound travels along the nerves that connect the ear to the brain. For this test, an audiologist places sensors in the head. The sensors are connected to a computer. Short clicking sounds via headphones has been used during the test.

This allows the audiologist to see how the sound travels to different parts of the brain. It also shows if something is blocking the nerves that connect the ear to the brain.

Treatment

Not all people with auditory processing disorder (APD) treatment needs. If you or your child needs treatment, there are many approaches. Each person with APD has different needs. Your health care team can work with you to help you. You or your child's treatment may include:

  • Hearing aids and devices audición.Su health care team may suggest that the use of hearing aids with wireless hearing devices. Listening devices help to direct the sound to you. The sound of the source to your hearing aid. Frequency modulation or FM systems send sounds to you so that you can hear better. They work with a hearing aid and direct sounds to it. These systems help to make it easier to hear sounds in noisy environments.
  • Auditory training.The auditory training,also called the aural rehabilitation, helps you adapt to the loss of hearing. You can train with an audiologist, a speech-language pathologist, or both. You can train one-on-one with a therapist or as part of a group. During the auditory training, learn how to tell a kind of sound to another. You can do this by listening to sounds that are more strong and more smooth, is given quickly and slowly. The sounds come from different directions. Also learn how to tell the difference between the sounds of speech, which affects the meaning of the words that you hear. Ear training helps the brain to tell the difference between the sounds that you hear every day. The goal is to help you feel like you are able to talk with other people.
  • Computer-based training. Computer-based programs can help to train the brain to recognize and understand sounds. These programs are as auditory training, but not on-line or with a computer program.

Hearing aids and hearing devices. Your health care team may suggest that the use of hearing aids with wireless hearing devices. Listening devices help to direct the sound to you. The sound of the source to your hearing aid.

Frequency modulation or FM systems send sounds to you so that you can hear better. They work with a hearing aid and direct sounds to it. These systems help to make it easier to hear sounds in noisy environments.

Auditory training. Ear training, also called the aural rehabilitation, helps you adapt to the loss of hearing. You can train with an audiologist, a speech-language pathologist, or both. You can train one-on-one with a therapist or as part of a group.

During the auditory training, learn how to tell a kind of sound to another. You can do this by listening to sounds that are more strong and more smooth, is given quickly and slowly. The sounds come from different directions. Also learn how to tell the difference between the sounds of speech, which affects the meaning of the words that you hear.

Ear training helps the brain to tell the difference between the sounds that you hear every day. The goal is to help you feel like you are able to talk with other people.

Lifestyle and home remedies

There are simple steps you can take to manage the auditory processing disorder (APD). For example:

  • Try to use a remote microphone to improve how well you hear in a noisy room.
  • Move closer to the person who is talking.
  • Think about the coverage of the surfaces that make sounds of the echo, such as open or empty spaces.
  • Stay away from other sources of noise, such as a fan.
  • In a class or in a meeting, ask someone to take notes for you or to obtain a written copy of what was said.
  • Ask anything important in writing.
  • The use of subtitles when watching TV.

Coping and support

Have auditory processing disorder (APD) can make you feel on the left of everyday events. It can make you feel alone. Auditory training as part of your treatment can help you or your child learn how to deal with the hearing loss and the setting.

Ear training can help you or your child learn to talk better to others and help them to talk with you. This can help you feel less alone and more connected with others.

Preparing for your appointment

You or your child may start by seeing your family health care provider. For the test, you or your child may be referred to a hearing specialist, called an audiologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your or your child's symptoms, including those that do not appear to be linked to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All medications, vitamins or other supplements that you or your child is taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Have a friend or family member, if possible, to help you to listen to or remember the information that is obtained.

To the disorder, auditory processing, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is probably the cause of my or my child's symptoms?
  • Other that the most likely cause, what are other possible causes of these symptoms?
  • What tests are needed?
  • It is this condition likely to disappear or to be of long duration?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions you have about this condition.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • Are the symptoms constant or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, helps you hear better?
  • What, in any case, it makes it more difficult for you to hear?
Symptoms and treatment of Auditory processing disorder (APD)