Auditory Processing Disorder?

[mommy2allgirls]

Does anyone here have a child with auditory processing disorder? I have 4 dds and two of them have been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder. We are having a rough time with my 3 year old with SPD in regards to listening, this goes beyond the normal 3 year old refusing to listen. I was just curious what signs and symptoms there were to APD. If anyone could share I would appreciate it

 

[robynchic]

I have an (undiagnosed) auditory processing disorder. You cannot talk to me or lecture me while I'm writing. If I'm knitting, it's fine (unless I'm reading a chart or counting stitches). If I'm typing, it's fine. But don't try to talk to me when I'm writing- I will not get it. Not even in-one-ear-out-the-other, but aerodynamic wind currents going around my head.

I don't know what signs there are for APD, but there's my anecdote. Do you know she's listening/hearing you? When was the last time her hearing was tested? Does she have a history of bad ear infections? I'm asking this because I wonder if it's not an issue with listening, but with hearing.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Yes buy I can't PM right now and don't want to post personal info. Google Northwestern University & Auditory Processing. They are the premier authority on it. Look into Bio Mark (bio mapping).

 

[bookwormde]

Auditory processing disorder exists in a very larger percentage of our kids on the spectrum, although since it is so central to our kids if a child has a spectrum diagnosis they will not give a separate APD diagnosis.

ADP is truly about processing and often comes from a mind which is non linear and non discriminatory. For our children to remember things they have to be able to create a “picture” for what the person is talking about. Additionally our children are typically non discriminatory with input so they try to “save it all” so when there are multiple input sources that makes typical linear memory methods of neurotically kids non existent. While this sounds like a major challenge there are lots of ways to communicate more effectively with our child and it is actually a great gift if they can harness the non-linear abilities for complex analytical purposes.

With females and their ability to self-adept through role-playing this is often the only spectrum characteristic, which becomes evident.

Try providing a visual picture (or series of pictures) of what you want your children to do along with the verbal cues. Also a check box system next to the picture that they can mark as they complete each step will provide a linear structure for that task.

Your children are not refusing to listen they hear but the information is not being supplied in their “preferred form” so it is often ineffective. They may also lack the social impetus to recognize the importance or time related nature of the requests.

Watch for additional issues with societal social skill as they get older and monitor for executive function differentials such as a strong preference for non linear input (pictures and video are the easiest understood of these) along with indication of the ability to hyper focus on area of strong interest. Also monitor closely for anxiety which often occurs when these differential are not understood.

It may be just one simple characteristic but I still recommend reading Tony Attwoods “The Complete Guide to Apsergers” (available on Amazon for $16) as it will give you a better understanding of the differentials that create the difficulty with linear processing, discrimination and memory which manifest themselves as APD.

bookwormde

 

[TillyMarigold]

My DH has it (also AS and OCD). What I've had to do is always stop him and ask him if he's listening to me before I say whatever it is, and half the time I have to repeat myself anyway. Honestly it's really annoying and I feel bad for getting mad at him but after six years of having to say about half of what I want to say two or three times ... then again he gets mad at me for constantly asking "Are you listening to me?" so I guess we're even.

I have a lazy eye (amblyopia) so I understand how it is for him, because when I try to look at something with just that eye it's like I can see things but they don't make sense. Like I can look at a word with that eye, but unless I think about what each of the letters is and sound it out like a little kid, I can't read it. I have to really think about it even though when using the good eye or both together, I can read a page of text in ten seconds or so.

It's the same way for him to hear something ... he doesn't just understand as soon as he hears, he has to replay the sounds in his head to make them make sense. So I guess the main symptom is that when you say something to you, he stares at you for a few seconds before he answers/does what you asked/etc. because it takes him a few seconds to process what you just said. But not all the time--only when you've just introduced a new topic or said something unexpectedly.

For example ... We can have a conversation, it's mostly just a problem when I *start* a conversation. Once he's already thinking about whatever we're talking about, then it's easier, I guess because he already has a set expectation of what I might say next. For example, he's at a restaurant (for example) and the waiter comes up and says "How's everything?" or "Do you need another glass of Coke?" he can answer because he expects that (it's what waiters always say). But if the waiter says "Would you like to try a sample of our new appetizer?" he wouldn't understand that right away.

 

[LuvsTinker]

It's the same way for him to hear something ... he doesn't just understand as soon as he hears, he has to replay the sounds in his head to make them make sense. So I guess the main symptom is that when you say something to you, he stares at you for a few seconds before he answers/does what you asked/etc. because it takes him a few seconds to process what you just said. But not all the time--only when you've just introduced a new topic or said something unexpectedly.

For example ... We can have a conversation, it's mostly just a problem when I *start* a conversation. Once he's already thinking about whatever we're talking about, then it's easier, I guess because he already has a set expectation of what I might say next. For example, he's at a restaurant (for example) and the waiter comes up and says "How's everything?" or "Do you need another glass of Coke?" he can answer because he expects that (it's what waiters always say). But if the waiter says "Would you like to try a sample of our new appetizer?" he wouldn't understand that right away.

Ditto - that's my son too

Also cannot distinguish between some phonic sounds when listening

When he was younger, it was so baffling why I would say something and he'd look at me like he didn't know I was saying.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Thank you for all of the responses. I really do think this is what my daughter has. I appreciate all the advice and support

 

[Piper]

Not all APDs involve hearing loss. My daughter could hear more than the normal range. The whine of automatic doors (which people don't usually hear) bothered her a lot! But if you told her (for example) to pick up her toys and then she could get a cookie......she would do the first task and not the second.

She also kind of mumbles when she talks---but that is because she has very mild CP and years of speech therapy couldn't completely fix that!

 

[Kat77]

For those of you dealing with APD- would hearing things wrong be included in an APD dx?
For example: DD11 thought for years that "It's okay" was "That's all cake" or most recently "sagging" heard as "jagging". It's the commonly heard expessions that really make me what we are looking at here. She has other medical issues so I have never made figuring this out a priority other than making certain there was no hearing loss.

 

[bookwormde]

Kat77

Yes “hearing” things wrong” is often a big part of APD especially if I the individual has Autism spectrum genetics. Some much of what we hear is contextual (and steered by non verbal cues) that if there are processing issues and social reference issues they gang up together. It is important to make sure that it is not a “hearing issue” but if it is not then this is a very common part of APD for a significant portion of those with APD.

bookwormde

 

[Kat77]

Thx Bookwormde. My bio boys are both Aspies so spectum disorders are not new to us. DD11 had testing that indicated her being on the spectum but was never dx'd offically because some of her issues could have also been attachment related (adopted at 3.5 from orphange). She was dx'd with Tourette's at 7 and receives special services so any further dx's just serve as alphabet soup at this point...
No hearing loss, thankfully. I suspected APD. I will have to do some reading on therapy now.

 

[honugirl]

I'm in the process of trying to get diagnosed with SPD. After some testing done a few weeks ago, I know that I cannot understand spoken language if there is background noise. In my right ear depending on the frequency I either am bordering on a mild hearing loss or I have hyperacusis, the hearing in my left ear is "normal". I'm now stuck sending in a pile of paperwork to see if I might qualify for more testing to see if we can pinpoint some sort of therapy to help me. I also have visual issues, I'm starting vision therapy in a couple of weeks. I have other SPD issues too, but it's hard as an adult. No one wants to deal with you...

 

[mommy2allgirls]

I'm in the process of trying to get diagnosed with SPD. After some testing done a few weeks ago, I know that I cannot understand spoken language if there is background noise. In my right ear depending on the frequency I either am bordering on a mild hearing loss or I have hyperacusis, the hearing in my left ear is "normal". I'm now stuck sending in a pile of paperwork to see if I might qualify for more testing to see if we can pinpoint some sort of therapy to help me. I also have visual issues, I'm starting vision therapy in a couple of weeks. I have other SPD issues too, but it's hard as an adult. No one wants to deal with you...

Oh man, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this especially as an adult. 2 of my dd's have SPD and vision issues and I couldn't imagine having to go through all of the diagnosis as an adult. I hope you are able to get this all worked out.

 

[mebbradley]

I have Central Auditory Proccessing Disorder as well as I have Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. I'm a mess

Alot of times, If I am walking and people are talking to me while they are behind me, ie. walking up stairs; I don't register that they are talking.

APD and CAPD do not mean hearing loss, usually it's the oposite, it's hyper hearing. I know that's what it is in my case.

 

[honugirl]

Oh man, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this especially as an adult. 2 of my dd's have SPD and vision issues and I couldn't imagine having to go through all of the diagnosis as an adult. I hope you are able to get this all worked out.

Thanks It's really tough. The vision therapists are good, they know how to deal with it, but the auditory people are at a total loss as to what to do and this is coming from a fairly large university in my area that has a dedicated speech/hearing clinic. Most OT's and PT's that have experience won't take on an adult patient either so it's a lot of looking at the internet and figuring out how to make your own "sensory diet." That combined with my other problems and I'm a certified mess, but hey, I just put one foot in front of the other and keep going. I've made it this far.