We talk a lot about traditional hearing loss on our site, which occurs when some kind of damage or dysfunction in the ear or organs inside the ear impedes your ability to hear sound. But hearing difficulties can also be caused by factors other than the ear. Such is the case with auditory processing disorder, or APD.
The Brain’s Role in Hearing
Hearing is a complex, multi-step process that involves multiple organs. The outer ear collects sound information, the organs of the inner ear encode that information into electrical signals, and then the auditory nerve carries those electrical signals to the auditory cortex, the region of the brain that processes sound.
Inside the auditory complex, your brain performs several tasks with the sound information it receives. It identifies what made the sound; determines what sounds are background noise and what sounds aren’t, and therefore what you should focus on; interprets speech so you can follow a conversation; and determines what direction a sound came from, among many other sound-related tasks. It is in the auditory complex that we finally perceive the sound and hear it.
Auditory Processing Disorder Explained
Unlike traditional hearing loss, which involves the ears and organs attached to them, APD involves the auditory complex. This means that your ears are picking up sounds just fine, but your brain struggles to understand those sounds. APD is most commonly observed in children and older adults.
Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder
Symptoms of APD can be subtle and may resemble other conditions at first glance. Here are some symptoms to watch for:
- Trouble telling where sounds are coming from
- Difficulty understanding words
- Difficulty interpreting speech cues, such as tone and inflection
- Delayed responses
- Fatigue or frustration when involved in a long conversation
- Unable to multitask when listening
- Easily distracted by background noise
- Memory issues, especially concerning spoken instructions
Notice that many of these symptoms are also characteristic of other neurodivergent conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In some cases, one might have one of these conditions as well as APD.
How Auditory Processing Disorder Is Treated
There is currently no cure for APD, but treatment can vary depending on the severity or type of APD. First, a diagnosis is necessary. This can be done through a few tests. First, a hearing test can help rule out traditional hearing loss, and then auditory processing tests or psychological tests can assess the brain’s ability to process sound and other external stimuli.
Treatment may be as simple as environmental changes, such as moving closer to the speaker, eliminating background noise and using recording devices to help capture information. Other treatments can include speech and auditory therapy, auditory rehabilitation or hearing aids. Your healthcare team will recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your or your child’s needs.
If you want to learn more about APD or want to schedule an appointment, call San Diego ENT.