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What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?

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IRIS | Page 5: Presentation Accommodations

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To review, accommodations are changes to educational environments or practices designed to help students with disabilities overcome learning barriers that result from their disabilities. Presentation accommodations change the way that instruction, directions, and information are presented. These accommodations allow a student with a disability to access information in ways other than standard visual or auditory means such as by reading or listening.

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Auditory processing disorder (APD) makes it hard for students to process and make meaning of sounds. That can make it hard to learn - from focusing on what a teacher says to learning how to read.

Here are some examples of accommodations teachers can use to help with auditory processing disorder in the classroom.

Classroom seating, materials, and routines

Provide a quiet area for independent work.

Let the student sit near the teacher and away from auditory distractions, like doors and windows.

Check in frequently to make sure the student understands the work.

Provide an assistive listening device to make it easier to distinguish the teacher's voice.

Give extra time for testing.

Giving instructions and assignments

Give step-by-step instructions, and have the student repeat them.

Use attention-getting phrases like "This is important to know because...."

Decide with the student on a nonverbal signal to show that a key point is being made.

Say directions, assignments, and schedules out loud, and rephrase as needed.

Repeat key information throughout the lesson, and rephrase as needed.

Use visual tools, images, and gestures to enhance and support spoken lessons.

Break down test or classwork instructions into short, written steps.

Highlight key words and ideas on worksheets.

Give written homework instructions.

Provide a list of homework assignments for the week (or day).

Introducing new concepts/lessons

Speak clearly and slowly when presenting new information.

Give material on a new concept to the student before it's taught to the whole class (so the student can get familiar with it ahead of time).

Give a list of or highlight key vocabulary and concepts for upcoming lessons.

Give a short review or connection to a previous lesson before teaching something new.

Give the student an outline of the lesson.

Grade based on the student's completion of the lesson goal. (For instance, don't grade spelling errors if that's not what the student was supposed to learn.)

About the author

About the author

The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. Many of them have kids who learn and think differently.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Ginny Osewalt is a dually certified elementary and special education teacher with more than 15 years of experience in general education, inclusion, resource room, and self-contained settings.

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Classroom accommodations for auditory processing disorder

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What classroom accommodations can help students with auditory processing disorder? Here are strategies teachers can try at school.

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Do you have a student who finds it difficult to follow instructions or understand what is being said in a noisy classroom?

They may have an Auditory Processing Disorder.

The Teacher's Role

Teachers are pivotal in understanding the signs of Auditory Processing Disorders in children, as the classroom is where the issue is often first noticed. If the signs of an APD aren't identified and managed, many students with the deficit will face longer-term learning challenges. Therefore, early intervention is key.

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders

Auditory Processing Disorders affect around 3-5% of school-age children. While these children are often thought to sense sound normally because they may hear sounds that are delivered one at a time in a very quiet environment, they usually have difficulty analysing, remembering and making sense of the information they hear. As such, they do not have a hearing problem, but rather their brains have trouble making sense of what is said to them. For example, in noisier environments like a classroom or playground, they may have trouble recognising slight differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud enough to be heard.

Do you have a student who finds it difficult to follow instructions or understand what is being said in a noisy classroom?

Hearing the differences between sounds

(i.e. Auditory Discrimination)

For example, they may hear the word "seventy" instead of "seventeen."

Filtering out unimportant sounds

(i.e. figure-to-Ground Discrimination)

Kids may have a hard time following the teacher's instructions while other kids are talking in the background.

Remembering things they hear

(i.e. Auditory Memory)

Kids with Auditory Processing Disorder may have a hard time remembering song lyrics that other kids remember easily.

Signs of an Auditory Processing Disorder

These can range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. If you think a student might be having trouble processing sounds, ask yourself the following:

Does the student often mishear sounds and words?

Doesn't remember details of what he/she has heard.

Are conversations hard for the student to follow?

Is the student easily distracted by background noise, i.e. does their attention to a task reduce with auditory distractions?

Does the student have trouble following verbal directions, whether simple or complicated?

Does the student have trouble with spelling or phonics?

Are verbal (word) math problems hard for the student?

Does the student's listening behaviours and performance improve in quieter settings?

Are You Sure It's an Auditory Processing Disorder?

Diagnosing an Auditory Processing Disorder can be difficult because it can look like other conditions - and often happens alongside other conditions - like language and reading difficulties and attention deficits.

According to the American National Institutes of Health, in children referred for learning difficulties, around 43% have an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

The difference between Auditory Processing Disorders and Attention Disorders

Unlike other more common hearing problems, Auditory Processing Disorders can occur infrequently. Children can have no problems processing different sounds one day, and the next day, they may struggle to make sense of the sounds that surround them.

If you suspect a child has an Auditory Processing Disorder, encourage their parents to take them to an Audiologist for a professional opinion. An Audiologist will use various auditory processing function tests to make a clinical diagnosis.

If an Auditory Processing Disorder is diagnosed, there are a small number of clinically proven programs available for children that remediate the condition, if isolated early. Sound Storm is one of them. Studies have shown that 100% of children aged 6-12 years with Spatial Processing Disorder (a specific type of Auditory Processing Disorder) that complete the Sound Storm program, are remediated of SPD.

The following tips may also help:

Use strategic (or preferential) seating so the child is closest to you and away from environmental sounds (e.g. open windows, fans, heaters etc.). This reduces sound and sight distractions and improves access to speech.

Pre-teach new or unfamiliar words.

Use visual aids.

Record lessons for later review.

Use a remote microphone system to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in a classroom. The signal-to-noise ratio is a measure that compares the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise - the signal being your voice.

Use trigger words to get a child's attention, for example "take note now".

Ask the child to repeat multiple-part instructions before they start a task, to ensure they have understood. Correct them where necessary.

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Do you have a student who finds it difficult to follow instructions or understand what is being said in a noisy classroom? They may have an Auditory Processing Disorder. The Teacher's Role Teachers are pivotal in understanding the signs of Auditory Processing Disorders in children, as the classroom is where the issue is often first noticed.

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Auditory Processing Disorder (for Parents)

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Kids with APD can’t understand what they hear in the same way other kids do. That’s because their ears and brain don’t fully coordinate. But early diagnosis and a variety of strategies can help them.

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Free APD Resources - For Patients and Parents

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Get access to helpful resources, including letters for schools, employers and more.

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Modifications: Grade Separate from Spelling 

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Modifications: Grade Separate from Spelling 

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Teaching students diagnosed with auditory processing disorders - New Jersey Education Association

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by Dr. Pamela Cooper, M.A., MBA, Ph.D. Auditory processing disorder (APD) and central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) are umbrella terms for any kind of hearing disorder where the brain and

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Teaching students diagnosed with auditory processing disorders

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Overview

Auditory processing disorder, also called APD, is a type of hearing loss caused by something affecting the part of the brain that processes how you hear. Ear damage causes other types of hearing loss.

APD is also sometimes called central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). It can happen in anyone. But it most often happens in children and older adults.

Many conditions can affect how well a person understands what they hear, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism. But these conditions are different from auditory processing disorder, although they can appear with APD. APD also can happen with other types of hearing loss.

Auditory processing disorder has no cure. But treatments can help you hear better.

Symptoms

Symptoms of auditory processing disorder (APD) can be subtle. Symptoms can include having trouble with:

Telling where sound is coming from.

Understanding words that are spoken quickly or in a noisy room.

Paying attention.

Reading and spelling.

Following directions unless they are short and simple.

Learning a new language.

Singing or enjoying music.

Understanding and remembering spoken information.

If you have APD, you also might:

Take longer to reply to someone who is talking to you.

Often need others to repeat themselves.

Not understand sarcasm or jokes.

APD is often seen with attention, language and learning issues like those seen in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

When to see a doctor

If you have trouble hearing or understanding what you hear, talk to a health care professional.

Causes

The cause of auditory processing disorder (APD) is sometimes unknown. APD can be linked to many conditions. In older adults, conditions might include stroke and head trauma. In children, APD can be linked to issues at birth, such as low birth weight or early birth, or repeated ear infections.

In typical hearing, the brain's auditory center takes the sound waves sent from the ears and turns them into sounds you know. But with auditory processing disorder (APD), the auditory part of the brain can't do this.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of auditory processing disorder (APD) include:

Aging.

Stroke.

Head trauma.

Lead poisoning.

Seizure disorders.

Issues linked to birth, such as an early birth, low birth weight or a pregnant person using alcohol, drugs or tobacco.

Repeated ear infections, especially at a young age.

Complications

Auditory processing disorder (APD) complications include:

Trouble understanding what people are saying.

Trouble taking part in activities.

Feeling isolated and lonely.

Trouble reading and writing, in children.

Trouble doing well in school.

Feeling depressed.

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Auditory processing disorder (APD) - Symptoms and causes

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This type of hearing loss involves the brain. Learn about ways that can help people with the condition hear better.

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Below, you will find information on how to improve attention and memory with auditory processing techniques, specifically through auditory feedback. We're sharing information regarding an auditory processing tool intending to utilize auditory feedback to promote attention and memory within functional tasks.

On a daily basis, therapy providers witness the strong connections between attention and memory, and their influence on function. They're also able to prescribe customized therapy programs that ameliorate each level of auditory processing needed to carry out a task. Activities that work multiple systems while strengthening the foundation of function help to streamline therapy and meet goals. This wholistic approach is a hallmark of the occupational therapy profession.

Auditory Processing

We've shared various auditory processing activities here on The OT Toolbox. Today, we're chatting about auditory feedback and the part this plays in improving attention needed in learning. You can find additional resources and activities like this auditory feedback tool at the bottom of this post.

Memory and Attention are the Foundations for Learning

Memory and attention work together in the brain to form the basis of our cognitive abilities. Attention is the ability to process information-sometimes selectively-and memory is the ability to store that information for retrieval as needed.

This foundation impacts everything we do, including basic cognitive tasks (such as brushing our teeth) and more complex tasks (like playing a musical instrument).

What is Auditory Feedback

Auditory Feedback is a natural process in the human body that helps us understand and modulate sound and speech signals in real time. When we speak, our ears receive the signal, and our brains make sense of it. In the case of vocalizations, and to a greater extent speech, our brains modulate the productions in real time so that we can quickly adapt, ensuring our message is accurate.

Strengthening the Foundation

Simply using the auditory feedback system-or auditory feedback loop- is one way to ensure that memory and attention continue to work well. We do this every day by listening to sounds and speaking.

In order to improve these skills, we need to challenge the brain in specific ways. We know that the brain is plastic; it is a living organ that changes and adapts to the needs of the body. If someone stops using their left arm, the brain will strengthen connections to the right arm to compensate. Furthermore, the neural connections that aren't being used for the left arm will start to deteriorate, which is hard evidence for the "use it or lose it" adage.

Practical and Results-Focused Brain Training

Disclosure: Affiliate links are included below.

Capitalizing on the audio-feedback loop and its ability to improve memory and attention in the brain is the business of Forbrain ® Bone Conduction Headphones. With these headphones, a simple task can become a multi-faceted memory and attention-boosting transformation.

Bone conduction hearing is ten times quicker than air conduction and while using Forbrain, which includes a microphone and a dynamic filter, manipulated sound stimuli reach the brain quicker, and are presented in a way that's naturally challenging. Challenging the brain is synonymous with growing the brain!

The use of Forbrain has been proven to improve therapy outcomes. One study suggests that there is a real basis for the claims that Forbrain can improve voice quality and the executive attentional mechanisms and memory. The results suggest that an auditory feedback device such as Forbrain® could be helpful in improving focus in those who have attention disorders such as ADHD, and those who have difficulties with speech production and auditory processing (Escera).

Activities to improve attention through auditory processinG

It's as simple as wearing the headphones while carrying out auditory feedback activities during therapy or during everyday tasks. Examples of activities might include:

Reading a book or poetry aloud

Practicing tone and pitch while singing

Playing a musical instrument

Memorizing material for an exam

Performing exercises to improve posture and diaphragmatic breathing

Easy to incorporate auditory processing activities:

Forbrain isn't just for therapists or those of us in a therapy program. If you or someone you know can benefit from the improved memory and attention abilities that Forbrain provides, read more about using a bone conduction headset and grab one of your ownn here.

References:

Escera, C. (2015). A scientific single case study on speech, auditory processing and attentional strengthening with Forbrain® . Retrieved from Agency name website: https://www.forbrain.com/uploads/editor/files/Scientific_Research_Forbrain-Carles_Escera-Summary_Report.pdf

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Improve Attention with Auditory Processing - The OT Toolbox

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Below, you will find information on how to improve attention and memory with auditory processing techniques, specifically through auditory feedback. We're sharing information regarding an auditory processing tool intending to utilize auditory feedback to promote attention and memory within functional tasks.

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Trastorno del procesamiento auditivo (para Padres)

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Los niños con trastorno del procesamiento auditivo no pueden entender lo que escuchan de la misma manera que lo hacen otros niños. Eso se debe a que la coordinación entre los oídos y el cerebro no es completa. Pero el diagnóstico y el tratamiento tempranos suelen ayudar.

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Auditory Processing Activities - The OT Toolbox

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This resource on auditory processing activities can help with kids that are sensitive to sounds or need help with auditory processing skills.

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Find out how auditory processing and reading delays are connected, sometimes call phonological processing disorder. Learn more here.

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How Mathematics are More Difficult For My Child with Dyslexia, APD, and VPD

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It may be obvious how reading would be more difficult for a child with Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder, and Visual Processing Di…

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The exact cause of APD is not always clear, but research has identified several possible contributing factors. In children, APD may be linked to premature birth, low birth weight, or frequent ear infections (Mayo Clinic, 2023). These early-life health issues can interfere with the development of the auditory processing pathways in the brain, leading to difficulties in interpreting sound. In older adults, APD can result from medical conditions such as stroke or head injuries. When the brain processes sound waves from the ears, it typically converts them into recognizable patterns of speech and noise. However, with APD, the brain struggles to organize and interpret these patterns accurately, leading to confusion and misinterpretation of auditory information. These processing difficulties can affect a person’s ability to learn language, follow verbal instructions, and engage in social communication.

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Auditory Memory

Auditory Discrimination

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Tulip (The Ultimate Learning Improvement Platform)

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Mayo Clinic . (2023, September 30). Auditory processing disorder (APD) - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20555261