Our audiology services
Assessment of auditory processing disorder

Auditory processing disorder

Auditory processing refers to how the brain interprets sounds perceived by the ears. Put simply, it's what the brain does with what the ears hear. The brain processes several aspects of the auditory information perceived by the ears, such as: the origin of a sound, the differentiation between speech and other noises, the recognition of differences between sounds, the ability to remember them and recognize sound patterns, to name a few.1

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is the difficulty in processing and understanding information that has been said verbally.

  • Common signs of APD
    • Being easily distracted;
    • Having limited attention;
    • Have difficulty reading;
    • Confusing similar sounds;
    • Having people repeat;
    • Having difficulty understanding, especially in the presence of ambient noise;
    • Having difficulty following when several instructions are given at the same time.
  • How do I know if my child has an APD?

    First, the audiologist will obtain a list of detailed observations (e.g. using a questionnaire) from the parents and will take note of any additional documents provided by a doctor, teacher, speech therapist or other, if applicable. Next, the audiologist will assess the child's hearing and middle ear function. Then, the audiologist will perform a few screening tests for APD in order to evaluate his or her performance in relation to various listening tasks in different situations. 1

    The evaluation requires three meetings, lasting 30 to 90 minutes each. Recommendations will be issued following this evaluation to overcome the patient's difficulties.

    Reference 1. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): FAQ | Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (oac-sac.ca)

  • Who is the hearing processing disorder assessment for?

    Children from 7 years old and Adults

    We can perform the assessment of auditory processing disorder from the age of 7 years. If a patient has symptoms consistent with auditory processing disorder, we recommend that you consult an audiologist.

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