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Auditory processing difficulties can have a profound impact on a child's literacy skills, hindering their ability to read, write, and spell effectively. These challenges can also significantly contribute to overall learning difficulties.
At our center, we have a team of highly skilled speech pathologists and auditory specialists who possess extensive expertise in addressing these specific concerns. Whether you are an NDIS participant or a private client, we are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need. Our tailored interventions aim to assist individuals who struggle with speech and language, enabling them to overcome their auditory processing difficulties and enhance their communication skills.
What are Auditory Processing Disorders?
Auditory Processing Difficulties (APD) occur when the brain is not able to recognise and interpret sound information correctly. It affects around 5% of children and 0.9% of adults1.
People with this condition have normal hearing however are unable to process information accurately in their auditory cortex, so cannot understand what they hear in the same way others do.
Children with APD can struggle to hear and understand verbal instructions, particularly when there is background noise, or the auditory/verbal information is compromised which impacts their literacy development and learning. APD may be confused with, or co-exist with other conditions such as ADHD, Autism, or Developmental Delay and it is not uncommon for children to be misdiagnosed or treated for their behavioural symptoms only, ignoring the auditory processing component.
Symptoms will vary from person to person however, the most frequently reported difficulties involve:
- Difficulty understanding speech, especially in the presence of background noise
- Slow/Delayed responses to auditory information
- Difficulty maintaining attention (e.g. poor listening skills, easily distracted by extraneous sounds)
- Poor auditory memory
- Difficulty following verbal instructions or needing these repeated/rephrased
- Inability to interpret speech cues (such as emotion and humour) or abstract ideas
- Over sensitivity to certain sounds or being distracted by ambient noise
Difficulties in vocabulary, reading, writing and spelling especially when compared to peers - Hesitant speech and difficulty with word retrieval
Diagnosing Auditory Processing Difficulties
Early diagnosis is important as children with APD will benefit significantly from pro-active intervention and support. If the condition is not managed it can leave children at risk for listening and learning problems at home and school.
It’s also key to evaluate auditory processing with an appropriate clinical assessment. While APD is often confused with, or may co-exist with other disorders, it is specific to an auditory processing deficit and not the result of any cognitive, language or related disorder. Careful, systematic testing is the best way to ensure an accurate diagnosis that can inform the most suitable treatment.
Our personalized treatment programs
Once the assessment is completed, neurocare will provide a report detailing the results, a clinical evaluation and a series of customised recommendations to help your child manage any areas of concern. This may include practical suggestions such as amended seating arrangements in school or the use of visual cues for verbal instructions, as well as clinical programs that focus on training and improving auditory processing skills in a therapy setting.
The Auditory Training Program™ may also be recommended to support your child in overcoming any areas of concern and achieve their full potential.
Support for NDIS participants
neurocare is a registered NDIS provider, and we provide programs under the Capacity Building stream. While specific support and funding will be based on your individual goals, we generally support participants under Improved Daily Living or Social and Community Participation.
We commonly support participants with:
- Developmental delays and intellectual disability
- Specific learning disability in reading, writing or spelling
- Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy
We work collaboratively with NDIS participants, carers, families, and support workers to set meaningful goals and deliver supports to help you achieve the outcomes you are aiming for.
