(APD) Auditory Processing Disorder Services | Sonant Hearing Clinic, Kent

WHAT IS AN AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is the difficulty one has processing and understanding auditory information in the brain despite having normal hearing sensitivity. (Normal hearing thresholds).

The ear transmits sound to the brain normally, but when voiced information is presented to the brain, the child or adult has problems understanding or interpreting the information. Up to 20% of the school age population is estimated to have APD.

SIGNS OF AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER

⦿ Difficulty understanding speech in the middle of background noise.

⦿ Difficulty with reading, spelling and comprehension of read material.

⦿ Difficulty remembering auditory information e.g remembering directions.

⦿ Difficulty organising sounds in the correct order or sequence.

⦿ Problems successfully combining auditory and visual information.

⦿ Difficulty with interpreting where sound is coming from.

⦿ Problems attending to different information presented to opposite ears.

⦿ A consistent delay in response to a question or instructions. i.e. slow to respond.

HOW IS AN AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER DIAGNOSED?

There are generally 3 models in relation to Auditory Processing Disorder diagnosis. The 3 schools of thought are the Buffalo Model, the Neurophysiological model and the Bellis-Ferre model.

There is currently research being undertaken (2026) involving all 3 APD models on the same patient, and the current conclusion is that they were all able to diagnose the same client with APD.

At Sonant Hearing Clinic, Kent we use the Buffalo Model and Acoustic Pioneer array of tests for diagnosing and treating auditory processing issues.

The Buffalo model of testing and treatment was developed by Jack Katz, Ph.D. at the University of Buffalo.

The Acoustic Pioneer Test was developed by Matthew Barker, AUD. as a means of making Auditory Processing Disorder Testing more accessible, FUN and easier to deliver and perform.

We assess patients (ages 5 years and older) on the degree to which they deviate from the norms on several listening tests. The tests measure a person’s performance in four categories:

Decoding: The ability to process phonemes quickly and accurately, or the building sounds of speech.

Tolerance-Fading Memory: The ability to understand speech while in competing noise and the necessary short-term memory capacity to do so.

Organization: The ability to organize and store orally presented information in the brain.

Integration: The ability for the left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate.

Acoustic Pioneer Testing. Gamified APD Testing at Sonant Hearing Clinic

HOW WE TREAT AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER

Auditory Training

The Buffalo Model’s treatment has a long history of success. The treatment targets the specific areas of weakness identified in the APD testing. We identify the individual’s specific auditory processing deficits from the comprehesive auditory processing disorder assessment (APD) (which are associated with a person’s specific academic/occupational and personal communication difficulties) and train the auditory nervous system to process speech and other sounds more accurately and efficiently, focusing on the areas of deficit.

For example Words in Noise Training (WINT) is a means of training the brain to focus on speech better using calibrated, progressively increasing noise. There is also a retest at the end of the auditory training block.

Audiologist Delivered App-Based Solutions

We also use the Acoustic Pioneer audiologist-delivered app-based solutions. These are selected following results from a comprehensive APD assessment. With app-delivered exercises to be completed between 2-4 times a week, with a follow up re-test at the end of the therapy block.

Remote Microphones and Receivers.

We can program and set up Remote microphones to help one distinguish and discriminate speech in background noise, if the results from their outcomes indicate that one would benefit from this

Working one-to-one with an experienced trained audiologist at Sonant Hearing Clinic on auditory training can develop the skills and strategies specific to the individual’s deficit and in turn help one learn to hear and process speech in noise again.

Acoustic Pioneer improved reading skills post therapy. Sonant Hearing Clinic

Image above shows how the Acoustic Pioneer means of therapy has undergone significant research and shown significant improvements in children's reading skills post-therapy.

APD SCREENING SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE, READ HERE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO BOOK AN APD SCREEN OR A COMPREHENSIVE APD ASSESSMENT