Professional Collaboration Lets Us Cast a Wider Net in Identifying APD

We Partner with Professionals

Audiologists are the only medical professionals who can diagnose a patient with an auditory issue; however, they don’t necessarily provide treatment or therapy. In fact, there is very little treatment or therapy offered, and this is where we come in. Besides an initial assessment, we also offer treatment and auditory training.

Many of our clients are parents of children of elderly parents, individuals with hearing loss or processing difficulties, or those with auditory or hearing therapy needs. But we also work alongside other professionals who may come across APD in their patients. It’s important for professionals to know who they can direct their patients or students to for treatment, making a life-changing referral. You might want to become more familiar with the signs and symptoms of APD if you happen to have one of the following careers:

• Pediatricians
• Speech Therapists
• Special ED Teachers
• Teachers
• Reading Specialists
• Developmental Ophthalmologists
• Those Who Work with Sensory Integration
• General Practitioners
• Neurologists
• Gerontologists
  

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) can affect both children and adults. It can cause problems with speech understanding, attention, learning, language, and reading.

Our goal is to provide education and recommendations to strengthen listening and communication skills and to reduce the academic, social, or workplace impact of APD. We have over two decades of combined experience and virtually serve all of New York State, the surrounding states, and international countries, such as Bermuda. Having been trained and mentored by a pioneer in auditory processing, we’ve based our practice on the Buffalo Model pioneered by Dr. Jack Katz. 

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. The following are conditions to watch for:

• 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
  

This list is illustrative, not exhaustive, and these signs are not unique to APD and should not be treated as definitive signs that APD is present. Many of these symptoms can often be associated with other commonly known disorders, such as ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and speech and/or language disorders. Additionally, it is important to note that APD may coexist with other disorders.

By partnering with other professionals, it is our hope to zero in on auditory processing disorders that can otherwise go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Let’s work together for the benefit of our patients and students.