Overview
Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central auditory processing disorder, is a hearing issue that makes it hard for you to understand what people are saying. The condition often starts in childhood, but adults may develop it from having certain diseases, getting a head injury or growing older.
People with APD have difficulty understanding speech even though they don’t have hearing issues. Many APD symptoms are similar to hearing loss symptoms. Although there’s no cure for ADP, audiologists have treatments that help people with APD manage hearing issues.
Is it common?
That’s hard to say. Research shows healthcare providers use different standards when they diagnose APD, which leads to a wide range of estimates. One recent study concluded that between 1 and 2 children in 1,000 have APD. Another study estimated between 23% and 76% of adults age 55 and older have APD.
Are there different kinds of APD?
No, but people with APD may have different areas of weakness. These four areas are:
- Auditory discrimination: Noticing small differences between words. For example, if you said, “There are (40) cats here,” someone with APD may hear “There are (four words) cats here.”
- Auditory figure-ground discrimination: Being able to pick out specific words in a loud or noisy background.
- Auditory memory: Being able to recall what was said, like remembering phone numbers or song lyrics.
- Auditory sequencing: Understanding and recalling the order of words.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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