Treatment for Auditory Processing Disorder APD in Kent

How is auditory processing disorder treatment given at Sonant Hearing Clinic, Kent

Following a comprehensive auditory processing assessment. An analysis of the results from the APD test helps us identify the categories for APD we need to focus on. We focus on the APD categories (which include Decoding, Tolerance Fading Memory, Integration and Organisation). We deliver several repeated progressive exercises to help rewire and strengthen auditory processing. 

This training is similar to rehabilitation exercises one might do for muscles of the body. It trains the brain to process sounds again correctly. It is a 14-week program, ensuring the repeated, increasing input helps create lasting connections in the brain.  When we practice something repeatedly, the brain learns that new skill and new connections are created in the brain. This can help change how the brain processes the information. This maximises the brain's own ability to change, grow or reorganise itself.

Auditory therapy will typically take 10-14 weeks with at least 1 session a week. Sessions last 45 minutes to 1hour. Some see results with a fortnightly session. Some like to mix the mode of receiving auditory training, as some alternate internet-delivered therapy with in-clinic therapy for convenience and variety. Some people may simply opt for APD testing and APD therapy online only due to distance constraints which we are happy to be able to oblige. We are able to cover in clinic and online requirements for APD therapy and APD testing. 

We recommend holistic treatments that include different modes of therapy to suit your lifestyle and preference; this is to ensure that maximal coverage of areas showing deficits is carried out for the highest chance of success.

Our recommended therapy of choice is usually face-to-face delivered auditory training for the management of auditory processing disorder. Alonso & Scochafer (2009) in their study showed how 72.4% of the patients undergoing auditory training had normal APD tests results after auditory training.

 Auditory training could be delivered alone or in combination with low-gain hearing aids (if applicable) and/or app-delivered therapy programs, which are monitored by the audiologist. We share further tailored results and recommendations with health and medical professionals, teachers, coaches and parents.

Our Principles for delivering Auditory Therapy to Treat Auditory Processing Disorder. 

Start Easy and deliver progressive training: 

We usually start easy, as starting at a very hard level from the start can be counterproductive. We would usually start at a level where one is likely to do very well. Delivering small doses over time: not too much at one time and with breaks encouraged during the session where necessary. 

We limit visual information:

 We will often take steps to remove the visual information that one has become accustomed to using. This enables us to focus only on the auditory information. This is because the aim is to further strengthen one's processing with auditory delivered input without a reliance on previous compensation strategies like lip-reading or use of contextual information. 

We remedy errors:

We present repair methods during therapy to help you get past areas of difficulty; sometimes this is repeated for the brain to make the lasting connection, just as would be the case with learning anything new. We also realise that sometimes we might need to take a break from that area and return to it later. 

We revisit outcomes: 

The history you shared with us initially will be revisited in details post auditory therapy. To look for areas for further focus and areas that have improved. 

We always recommend a re-assessment

To compare one's performance from the initial assessment to one's performance following. This is self-validating for the patient. By the first round, you may already notice some changes to your auditory processing in your day to day life. Repeating the assessment will be an objective means of confirming what have you have experienced in a positive way. 

Auditory Processing Disorder Therapy for Adults and Children

The statistical values upon which we base our tests and results span across a wide age range of 3yrs to 70yrs+! APD can affect anyone and treatment is available for adults and children, face-to-face in clinic or remotely over the internet.

APD Therapy for Adults

We adapt therapy to be concise or in-depth depending on the individual's preferences. Some adults prefer to take frequent breaks, and some adults prefer to keep progressing. 

APD Therapy For Children

For children we offer more breaks during therapy, we introduce concepts in ways that they prefer, with lots of humour, games and fun!

What Auditory Training Involves

We identify the individual’s auditory processing deficits from the comprehensive auditory processing disorder assessment (APD) and train the auditory system to process speech and other sounds more accurately and efficiently, focusing on the areas of deficit. One example within the auditory training treatment tools is Words in Noise Therapy (WINT). This is a means of training the brain to focus better on delivered non-contextual speech using calibrated, progressively increasing noise.  BMAT lasts for 14 weeks. There is also a retest at the end of the auditory training block to review changes that have occurred for the individual. Therapy may include exercises from any of these programs:

 Buffalo Model Auditory Training

• Phonemic Training Program

• Phonemic Synthesis Program

• Memory Exercises

•Word in Noise Therapy

• Short Term Auditory Memory Training

• H and Friends therapy

•Organization exercises

• Dichotic Offset Training

References

1.) Alonso, R.& Schochat, E. 2009. The efficacy of formal auditory training in children with (central) auditory processing disorder: behavioural and electrophysiological evaluation.  Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 75(5): 726-732.