Auditory Processing

Auditory processing disorder (APD) affects about 5% of school-age children.

Auditory Processing Disorder

An Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a complex disorder that affects an individual’s ability to understand and make sense of what they hear. When an individual’s brain perceives something different than what is heard, it becomes difficult to correctly process information being heard. For children, it may be difficult for them to understand stories and follow directions. ADP is often confused with ADHD, autism, hearing loss, or other learning disabilities, but it is important to distinguish it for proper treatment and therapy.

Four auditory processing skills that people with APD may struggle with:

Auditory discrimination: noticing, comparing, and distinguishing between separate sounds
Auditory figure-ground discrimination: focusing on the important sounds in a noisy setting
Auditory memory: recalling what you’ve heard, either immediately or in the future
Auditory sequencing: understanding and recalling the order of sounds and word

It’s not clear what causes APD, however, the difficulties impact people of all ages.

How Can Granite Bay Speech Help?

Here at Granite Bay Speech, we are experts at diagnosing and treating Auditory Processing Disorders. With over 30 years of experience, we have helped families resolve the frustration that occurs from Auditory Processing Disorders and build up relationships with better communication. Our Speech-Language Therapists are prepared to provide a number of interventions and customize therapy sessions to meet each client’s individual needs. Speech therapy for APD is essential in helping clients improve their skills in distinguishing, remembering, and sequencing sounds.

Download Auditory Processing Checklist

“

Our therapist is a delight to work with. She treats my son with dignity and respect, even amongst his weaknesses. We finally have found someone who has the expertise in cluttering and stuttering disorders that can help our son speak clearly. If you have a child with any type of articulation issues including auditory processing, childhood apraxia of speech, stuttering or cluttering disorder, GBS is the place to go to. Don't waste time with other SLPs who do not have the expertise in these areas.
Heather C.

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Around the age of 3 our daughter was not progressing with language the way that a typical child might. She was our third child and having never experienced any delays with our other children, we were frightened and reluctantly realized that she needed intervention. Other SLPs made no difference, but with Granite Bay Speech we have consistently seen progress with zero lapses and we have so much confidence in her future.
Elisa M.

Auditory Processing