Central Auditory Processing Disorder
• Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), also known as Auditory Processing Disorders (APD), is an auditory disorder that affects up to 5% of school-aged children
• These students have normal hearing ability but they cannot process the information they hear as there is a disconnect between what is heard and what is understood (usually characterized as “poor listeners”).
• For example, if the teacher askes “how a couch and a chair are alike”, child with CAPD might hear “how a chair and couch are alike”, or even “how a cow and hair are alike”.
• CAPD may result in speech, language, and academic problems.
Symptoms:
• Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
• Misunderstands the instruction or questions
• Says “huh” or “what” frequently
• Often needs directions/instructions repeated
• Difficulty following multi-step instructions
• Performance in class that does not rely heavily on listening is much better
• Able to complete task independently once they know what is expected
*NOT all cases of APD lead to language and learning problem, so there is no symptoms checklist for APD, only careful and accurate diagnostics can determine the underlying cause
Teaching strategies:
• Change the learning or communication environment: improve access to auditory presented information so that the child with APD can focus his/her attention on the message.
• Arranging the seating plans that accommodate students with CAPD, allow them to sit near the teacher (e.g. front rows)
• Using visual aids to support auditory instruction
• Provide written instructions or homework list
• Assign a studying buddy to keep updated for school work and using additional aids such as tape recorder to listen to the material as many times as they need to process the information.
• Frequency modulation (FM) system: electronic devices that enhance the teacher’s voice and reduce background noise in the classroom. The teacher wears a microphone and the child wears a headset to receive the sound.
Resources:
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/
http://www.caddac.ca/cms/page.php?166
• These students have normal hearing ability but they cannot process the information they hear as there is a disconnect between what is heard and what is understood (usually characterized as “poor listeners”).
• For example, if the teacher askes “how a couch and a chair are alike”, child with CAPD might hear “how a chair and couch are alike”, or even “how a cow and hair are alike”.
• CAPD may result in speech, language, and academic problems.
Symptoms:
• Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
• Misunderstands the instruction or questions
• Says “huh” or “what” frequently
• Often needs directions/instructions repeated
• Difficulty following multi-step instructions
• Performance in class that does not rely heavily on listening is much better
• Able to complete task independently once they know what is expected
*NOT all cases of APD lead to language and learning problem, so there is no symptoms checklist for APD, only careful and accurate diagnostics can determine the underlying cause
Teaching strategies:
• Change the learning or communication environment: improve access to auditory presented information so that the child with APD can focus his/her attention on the message.
• Arranging the seating plans that accommodate students with CAPD, allow them to sit near the teacher (e.g. front rows)
• Using visual aids to support auditory instruction
• Provide written instructions or homework list
• Assign a studying buddy to keep updated for school work and using additional aids such as tape recorder to listen to the material as many times as they need to process the information.
• Frequency modulation (FM) system: electronic devices that enhance the teacher’s voice and reduce background noise in the classroom. The teacher wears a microphone and the child wears a headset to receive the sound.
Resources:
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/
http://www.caddac.ca/cms/page.php?166