Auditory processing disorder (APD)

Auditory processing disorder (APD) often starts in childhood, but some people develop it later.

If you or your child have APD, you may find it difficult to understand:

• people speaking in noisy places
• people with strong accents or fast talkers
• similar sounding words
• spoken instructions

APD is not a hearing problem. People with the condition usually have normal hearing.

• you or your child find it hard to hear or understand speech

The GP may refer you to a hearing specialist.

To test for auditory processing disorder (APD) you or your child may be asked to:

• listen to speech with background noise
• spot small changes in sounds
• fill in missing parts of words

Other tests may include:

• having electrodes on your head to measure how your brain reacts to sound
• speech and language tests
• memory, problem-solving and concentration tests

Testing for APD is not usually done on children under 7 years old.

There's no cure for auditory processing disorder (APD) but there are things that can help.

Treatment usually involves activities to improve listening and concentration. This is called auditory training. You can do it with a hearing specialist or in your own time online.

To reduce background noise, schoolchildren with APD may be advised to wear a wireless earpiece that connects to a tiny microphone worn by their teacher.

There are things that you and other people can do to help with your or your child's auditory processing disorder (APD).

• talk face to face

• use pictures and text

• repeat or rephrase things if necessary

• use carpet and soft furnishings to reduce room noise

• do not cover your mouth when talking

• do not talk in long complicated sentences

• do not speak too fast or too slow

• do not have background noise, like TV and radio

It's not always clear what causes auditory processing disorder (APD).

Possible causes include:

• regular ear infections
• genetics
• head injury
• complications at birth

APD is often found in people with attention, language and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Symptoms of auditory processing disorder include difficulty understanding fast speech, strong accents, similar sounding words and spoken instructions.

Treatment for auditory processing disorder usually involves activities to improve listening and concentration, called auditory training.

There are things that can help with auditory processing disorder. For example, talk face to face, use pictures and text and reduce background noise.

It's not always clear what causes auditory processing disorder. Possible causes include regular ear infections, genetics or a head injury.