Auditory Processing Disorders Assessment and Management

Beacon Audiology is the first and only clinic in Ireland to offer the gold standard of APD assessments and treatment protocols as prescribed by the International APD Pathways, American Academy of Audiology (A.A.A) and British Academy of Audiology (B.A.A) guidelines and the APD Ireland Research Group (NUI Galway).

Beacon Audiology provides a comprehensive Auditory Processing Disorder assessment. This is performed by a dually qualified Speech-language therapist/Audiologist professionally trained in APD. As APD is an auditory deficit, the Audiologist is the only professional who can diagnose APD.

APD is diagnosed in the absence of hearing loss and intellectual disability. Auditory processing (AP) is described as "what we do with what we hear". Sometimes what a person hears and what the brain interprets might not be the same. This is called an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

An Auditory Processing Disorder covers a multitude of difficulties involving the inability of the ears and brain to communicate, resulting in trouble effectively recognizing sounds, discriminating between different sounds, and understanding the relevance and meaning of these sounds.

Children with APD will exhibit some of the following characteristics:

• Difficulty in understanding spoken language in noisy backgrounds/reverberant environments

• Misunderstanding messages

• Inconsistent or inappropriate responding

• Frequent requests for repetitions

• Taking longer to respond in oral communication situations

• Difficulty paying attention

• Being easily distracted

• Difficulty following complex auditory directions or commands

• Difficulty localizing sound

• Difficulty learning songs/nursery rhymes

• Poor musical and singing skills

• Associated spelling and learning problems

The diagnostic test battery assesses the integrity of the central auditory nervous system, determines the presence of an APD and examines a variety of auditory performance areas.

Auditory Processing Disorder & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sensory processing difficulties are common amongst those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, this can include auditory processing difficulties. At Beacon Audiology we can identify these difficulties and recommend appropriate intervention. In light of this, a pure diagnosis of APD cannot be the primary diagnosis when ASD is identified.

Intervention of Auditory Processing Disorders available at Beacon Audiology

Treatment focuses on three primary areas:

• Changing the learning or communication environment.

• Enhancing the individual's auditory perceptual skills.

• Individualised home/school programme to enhance the individual's language and cognitive resources.

Depending on the area of deficit, we offer various APD solutions at Beacon Audiology including:

• CAPDOTS

• Interactive Metronome

• Acoustic Pioneer

• FastForWord

• SoundStorm

• FM System