Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a hearing disorder. Although there are people with APD that do suffer from hearing loss, many can have perfect ability to hear, however their ability to understand what is heard is affected. With APD, people misunderstand the words that are said to them due to the brain not processing the information correctly.

Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder tend to present intermittently, and sometimes suddenly. A person is APD may have good days and bad days, and at times, may understand the first part of a sentence, but may feel that words get muddled when trying to understand the second half of a sentence. Often, one with APD has increased difficulty filtering out speech from background noises when in a noisy environment.

Auditory Processing Disorder is not a learning disability, but it can affect how people learn. Auditory Processing Disorder directly impacts communication, which we use in many aspects of our lives. The effects of APD can result in difficulties in learning, relationships, work, and more.  APD does not affect one’s intelligence; yet it often occurs with other conditions that have their own set of challenges as well.

The effects of APD are unique to each person. Because symptoms of APD fluctuate between person to person, and even within one person themselves, APD is difficult to diagnose.  The inconsistency with which the symptoms present makes some people doubt a person who admits to having Auditory Processing disorder.  People with APD are often told they are simply not paying attention or making up their symptoms. When children or adults hear that they are not trying hard enough on a regular basis, their self-esteem and confidence can take a significant hit. Seeking treatment for auditory processing disorder can help one feel validated when others question whether their symptoms are real, and can also help alleviate some of the symptoms of the disorder. In addition to treatment, there are things we can do to help our loved ones.

So, what can we do to help our loved ones suffering from APD?

• First and foremost: let them know we believe them!
  • Knowing that someone believes their symptoms are real is probably the best thing we can do for them. This can go a long way toward improving their self-confidence.
• Respond with compassion and support
  • Understanding, patience, and support from a loved one can make an individual with APD feel that they are not alone. An individual with APD may say “what” or “huh” a lot in conversation. Know that this is more frustrating for them than it is for you and respond with patience and compassion to help mitigate their frustration.
• Save important conversations for quiet areas
  • People with APD have increased difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. This is because their brain often hears all the sounds at the same volume and therefore has difficulty filtering out what is important from the background noises.
• When in a group setting, make sure only one person is speaking at a time
• Allow the person increased time to respond
  • People with APD may sometimes need more time to process auditory information.
• Avoid rapid speech and complex directions
• Look at them when speaking to them
  • Speaking directly to them can help them understand you more easily.
• Increase awareness of Auditory Processing Disorder
  • Help others around you understand that APD is a real disorder. The more we increase awareness, the more people will understand and support those suffering from this disorder.