Auditory Processing Disorder

Also read: Why Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) are Hard to Spot and How to Improve them

Children with Auditory Processing Disorder, previously called Central Auditory Processing Disorder CAPD, are unable to process language effectively. They struggle to learn language. They have difficulty with receptive language  (understanding what is being said to them and learning to read) and with expressive language (expressing their thoughts orally and in writing).

The programs used at Accomplished Learning Centre are designed to train and strengthen the auditory system, and are the programs most recommended for this purpose.

How APD causes learning challenges

Children with Auditory Processing Disorder cannot process language quickly and efficiently. Therefore, there are holes and gaps. If you did not know the following verse, would you understand it?

Mary had a little ____, ____ fleece was white ____ ____. Everywhere that Mary ____ ____ lamb was sure to ____.

To give an example that most people can relate to, it would be similar to listening to someone with a very heavy accent. You might only need to concentrate to listen to the person’s request for directions. Imagine if you had to listen to hours of that every day.

A child with APD might mishear, “How are a couch and chair alike?” as “How are a cow and hare alike?”  The child might not hear the subtle differences in, “I work in a greenhouse,” versus “I work in a green house.”  So close, and yet so far apart. No wonder these children have comprehension and attention problems.

If your child can’t understand what the teacher is saying, the material cannot be learned. If the material wasn’t learned, the child can’t do the work, write the report or pass the test. The gaps in what the child has learned will get wider and wider with every year.

It is not ADHD

It is impossible to stay focused when you can’t process what is being said. Even adults find it difficult to stay tuned-in on a speaker who is difficult to understand.

Medication does not cure APD. But there are programs that can make a very significant improvement.

Programs for APD

Interactive Metronome and IM-Home: This program is incredibly powerful for strengthening the auditory system and improving attention.

Fast ForWord: Developed by neuroscientists specializing in language disorders in children. Read Rapid Auditory Processing Study for scientific evidence. Then read Chapter 3, Redesigning the Brain from the book, The Brain That Changes Itself.

The Listening Program: We use this program when the child is unable to do one of our other programs. Reasons for this include too young, severe anxiety or behaviour issues, or the auditory system is too weak and needs The Listening Program first.

PACE (Processing And Cognitive Enhancement): This program is done face-to-face with the trainer. It involves 36 one-hour sessions of fast-paced game-like activities to develop a broad range of auditory and other cognitive skills. See the list of skills that are developed with PACE.

Which program is best for your child?

If you live in the Lower Mainland, the best place to start is with our Assessment and Parent Consultation.  If you live elsewhere, it can all be done through phone calls, our online assessments, and assessments you already have.

Phone 604.539.1386 (Toll-free in Canada 1.855.539.1386) to book an assessment or discuss your child  and our programs.