Auditory Processing Disorder Is Manageable When Identified

Urban Hearing offers comprehensive Auditory Processing Assessments

How Does It Work?

An assessment can take place virtually in the comfort of your own home, or in person at our Brooklyn or Bermuda locations.

Auditory Processing Evaluations are comprised of four steps:

1. Consultation and completion of a comprehensive set of questionnaires and self-assessments
2. Live evaluation comprised of multiple Auditory Processing assessments
3. Independent iPad examination, done on a separate day. Results are sent to the Audiologist.
4. Complimentary follow-up to review the results and recommendations

What Are the Symptoms of an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Symptoms of APD can manifest in many ways and can range from mild to severe. Certain behaviors can identify at-risk children and adults with APD.

• Difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise
• Frequently requesting repetition of what was said (saying "huh" and "what")
• Difficulty following verbal instructions
• Is easily distracted
• Difficulty sustaining attention
• Academic difficulties, including reading, spelling, and learning problems
• Difficulty understanding rapid, muffled, or distorted speech
• Misinterpreting sarcasm or jokes
• Difficulty localizing sound
• Inconsistent or inappropriate responding
• Difficulty learning a new language
• Difficulty learning songs or nursery rhymes
  

Auditory processing disorder can be difficult to live with, both for the person with the disorder and the people in their lives. The insight gained by an auditory processing evaluation can provide guidance for the professional to help develop strategies and recommendations to lessen the impact of the disorder and help the individual succeed at school, at work, or in other situations.

Testing for APD requires the patient to participate in several listening tests that assess areas of the auditory system. The results of each test are compiled and reviewed to determine if a diagnosis of APD is appropriate.

Prior to beginning the central auditory processing evaluation, an intake process is completed. During the process, we may collect relevant information in the following ways:

• Direct patient or guardian interview.
• Completion of case history forms.
• Completion of parent or teacher observation forms.
• Standardized listening difficulty questionnaires/checklists.
• Clinical files and histories review
• Academic records review, such as IEP and 504 plans.
  

After your evaluation, we will schedule a follow-up appointment to review your results. A detailed report of the test results and our recommendations will also be mailed to you. We will make recommendations for further testing as needed and refer your child to the specialty that best fits their treatment needs, which may include speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, optometry, psychology, or neuropsychology. 

Some additional criteria for referral to our program include:

• English must be a primary language (this removes any possibility of a language barrier affecting test results).
• There is no greater than a mild articulation and/or language disorder. Speech must be well understood, as testing requires verbal responses.
• The individual has an IQ within the normal range (80 or above). Cognition must be intact to understand the test task fully.
• A hearing test within the past six months indicates normal hearing. A hearing loss must be ruled out prior to APD testing to ensure this is not the underlying cause of reported difficulties. A hearing test must be completed within six months of the APD testing date.
• The patient is able to understand the test directions and has the patience to concentrate for at least 20 minutes at a time during testing.