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(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?

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 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

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 (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.

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.

APD SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE AT SONANT HEARING CLINIC

APD SCREENING SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE

Acoustic Pioneer improved reading skills post therapy. Sonant Hearing Clinic

The Acoustic Pioneer means of therapy has undergone significant research. With significant improvements noted in children's reading skills post therapy.