The Basics about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

colleen — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:15:31 +0000

One component that can factor into Attention Deficit Disorder is something called Auditory Processing Disorder. If you’re not familiar with this term, it has to do with the way the brain processes auditory information. Auditory Processing Disorder isn’t related to a hearing impairment. A child with APD can hear just fine. The impairment is in the brain’s ability to process and understand the sounds that are being heard, especially the sounds connected with speech.

ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder

If your child is having trouble learning or following directions, you may not want to rule out having your child tested for APD. Oftentimes a child has been diagnosed with ADHD, but the actual problem may be the underlying weak skills contributing to APD, because there are eleven behavior manifestations that overlap between the two conditions. APD can also occur alongside ADHD, so it’s possible that your child has both. One condition doesn’t necessarily rule out the other, but when we understand the nature of the cognitive deficit the child is experiencing, it makes it much easier to correct it.

Auditory Memory is Low

I use the analogy of a one full cup (liquid measuring cup) as what most of us are working with when it comes to our ability to process and store information that we hear. If your child has APD, then there is a chance that your child has only a quarter cup container to work with instead of a full cup. So, picture this, in school, their teacher is doling out a cup’s worth of auditory information, but your child can only process a quarter of a cup. Guess what happens next? Once their smaller cup of storage starts overflowing, they start manifesting what looks like ADHD symptoms, like fidgeting or spacing out. They simply cannot process all of the information that’s being delivered to their brain through their ears, so they shut down.

Strengthen All Cognitive Skills and Integrate into the Classroom

The good news is that with my Student Transformation System using the power of brain training, the part of the brain that processes auditory information can be strengthened. This is why the first thing I do with all of my students is to perform a cognitive assessment so I can fully understand what we’re working with. If it turns out that they have weak cognitive skills specifically contributing to Auditory Processing Disorder, I individualize your child’s program to include exercises to strengthen the part of the brain that governs their auditory processing skills.

If your child has APD, we often see tremendous improvement in their cognitive ability once we strengthen their auditory processing skills through brain training. If your child is on medication, many times it can be reduced or eliminated by the time the training is done.

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Colleen Bain is the best-selling author of Overcomers Inc. She writes, trains and consults in advanced brain training for children and their parents, teachers and professionals. Professionals also look to Colleen for her expert coaching relative to starting and expanding a brain training business. To find out how Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids can help you – visit How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child!

11 Behavioral Similarities Between ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder

colleen — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:00:51 +0000

ADHD is so readily diagnosed in many children today. However, clinicians are in a continual debate about the overlapping symptoms of ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder. There is growing concern that some children are being treated with stimulants when what they really need is auditory skill strengthening.

According to Dr. David D. Nowell, Ph.D: Clinical neuropsychologist, there are certain similarities and differences between Auditory Processing and ADHD. I wanted to write about this because a lot of parents feel challenged with their ADHD child. Perhaps, after reading this article, you may discover your child may have been mis-diagnosed. On the other hand, you may recognize your child has both ADHD and APD.

The following list shows the similarities between the two disorders according to neuropsychologists that Dr. Nowell interviewed.
1.    Decreased auditory attention
2.    Decreased frustration tolerance
3.    Difficulty following directions
4.    Diminished motivation
5.    Diminished memory
6.    Diminished self-awareness
7.    Diminished social skills
8.    Distractibility
9.    Sensitivity to overstimulation
10.    Task avoidance
11.    Withdrawn/sullen
Do any of the 11 behaviors describe your child? This is the challenge that clinicians as well as teachers are facing today. Its really hard to determine if the child's behavior is ADHD or APD.

The next list shows us the symptoms unique to ADHD.
1.    Aggressive behavior
2.    Decreased visual attention
3.    Difficulty with transitions
4.    Diminished mental flexibility
5.    Diminished motor coordination
6.    Excessive motor activity
7.    Impulsivity
8.    Impaired peer relationship

Do you see your child's behavior listed above? If yes, your child may fall more towards ADHD according to Dr. Nowell.

This last list depicts the symptoms specific to APD. The symptoms listed deal with language and the ability to process words/language from the brain and verbalize meaning or write meaning on paper.

1. Diminished verbal abstraction
2. Diminished Verbal IQ

Of course, no child will fit into these lists nice and neatly. Doctors use this list as a guide to better understand the child being examined.

My personal issue with the above lists is that they all can have certain explanations to why the behavior is showing itself. To always be sure, get your child to audiologist for a Auditory Processing Disorder validation. You can also have your child tested for ADHD neurotransmitter levels via Neuro Science http://neurorelief.com

The articles also point out behavioral concerns that all result or could result from brain based cognitive weaknesses. By having a child take my online cognitive assessment, I can determine which skills are weak and target to strengthen them. The result would be lessened if not removal of many to all of the behavioral concerns stemming from underlying cognitive weaknesses.

If a child still showed residual symptoms from the list above after brain training then more extensive intervention is required. The good news is that even if the child needs to be handed off for remediation or additional intervention, their brain has new neuropathways and their cognitive skills have been strengthened. Further intervention and remediation will have a start and end date. The child will be much more successful than if no brain training had occurred.

If you want more information on how ELSKs Student Transformation System will help your child learn easily and efficiently read more on my website now.

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The Basics about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

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11 Behavioral Similarities Between ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder

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