Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is an auditory deficit that makes distinguishing sounds challenging. It is not the result of higher-order cognitive, language, or related disorders (ASHA.org).

Students who have been diagnosed with APD, sometimes called Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) may struggle with one or more of the following:

• Auditory discimination: Noticing, comparing, and distinguishing between separate sounds.
• Auditory memory: recalling what was heard either immediately or later in the future.
• Auditory figure-ground discrimination: being able to focus on the sounds that are important when in a loud or noisy setting.
• Auditory sequencing: the ability to understand and recall sounds and words in a particular order.

Here are ways to support students with APD:

• Provide an assistive listening device, like a FrontRow system at The Craig School, to make it easier for students to distinguish the teacher’s voice.
• Provide a quiet space to learn.
• Briefly review or make a connection to previous learning before introducing something new.

References

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2005). (Central) auditory processing disorders.

Understood for All, Inc. (2020). Auditory Processing Disorder: What You Need to Know. https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/auditory-processing-disorder/understanding-auditory-processing-disorder