Struggling to Process What You Hear? We Can Help.

Even when hearing is normal, the brain can have difficulty making sense of sound. We help children, teens, and adults who hear but don’t always understand.

Is This Your Child?

  • Hears but doesn’t understand
  • Appears bright but struggles in class
  • Distracted or frustrated easily by noise
  • Can follow short directions but not multi-step
  • Mishears / confuses similar sounds (i.e. b/d)
  • Struggles to demonstrate knowledge in a classroom but understands material one-on-one
  • You feel something is missing, but no one has found it

If this feels familiar, you’re in the right place.

Understanding Auditory Processing

Auditory processing is what turns sound into usable information. It is the ability of the central auditory nervous system to take in and analyze the sounds perceived, process the neurological signals at an acceptable speed, and understand the information heard. Multiple systems of interconnecting neurons must work synchronously, bringing information together across modalities and processing centers to make sense of what we hear. For most of us, this occurs naturally. However, many children struggling in school have listening problems caused by the brain not processing sounds in the normal way.

Telepractice services for Auditory Processing Evaluations and Teletherapy

An Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a disruption in the auditory nervous system that affects the brain’s ability to process sound accurately and efficiently. Despite having normal hearing sensitivity and passing a basic hearing test, an individual with APD struggles to process and understand what they hear. The ears and brain don’t fully coordinate, making it harder for the brain to recognize and understand sounds. APD can make it challenging to distinguish subtle sound differences within words, remember what was heard, and keep up with ongoing speech, especially in the presence of background noise or when more than one person is speaking. A breakdown in listening skills can disrupt the normal acquisition of language, leading to speech/language delays and difficulties communicating. This can adversely affect a child’s success in school, self-esteem, and personal relationships.

Often Overlooked and Misunderstood

APD affects 43% of children struggling in school. Yet, it can easily be overlooked or mistaken for other learning disabilities or conditions such as ADHD. It is also common for APD to coexist with other disorders. For example, APD may coexist with ADHD, speech and language delays, dyslexia, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration disorder, visual perceptual or visual processing deficits, and hearing loss.

Unfortunately, many teachers and other professionals have never heard of APD, so children may not get the early identification and treatment they need to reach their full potential. For example, few are aware that research indicates that up to 70% of children with dyslexia have an underlying auditory processing disorder. Overlooking an auditory processing disorder can lead to years of extra reading instruction working around an underlying problem. The treatment for APD is different from other learning disabilities. If APD is not identified and treated, it makes it much harder for a child to communicate effectively and succeed in school.

Not Sure Where to Start?

We offer a free 10-minute consultation call to talk through your concerns and help you decide whether APD testing is the right next step for your child.
Book your free 10-minute consultation call.

Challenges Beyond Hearing

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) mimics hearing loss. APD causes distortion and delay in acoustic signal transmission, resulting in inaccurate sound coding in the brain.

  • Since the brain receives sounds incorrectly, children with APD may not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words (duh and guh for example), and they may have difficulty using those sounds for speech and language. This can also make it challenging to learn to read and spell.
  • Since individuals with APD struggle to process (or interpret) what they hear, it often causes listening comprehension problems.
  • Many children with APD have trouble screening out background noise. They may be distracted by surrounding sounds from air conditioners, hallways, and noisy environments such as gymnasiums, making it very difficult to understand speech. It is like listening to a radio station with static or other stations interfering with the reception.
  • In addition, individuals with APD often have poor ability to remember what they heard. They typically try so hard to understand that they often forget parts of what they hear.

Adults can also have APD.  Even when a hearing test is normal, adults may still struggle to understand and keep up with speech, especially in background noise or fast-paced conversations. If these difficulties sound familiar, an auditory processing evaluation can help identify what is causing the problem and guide appropriate treatment. Auditory Processing Center provides APD testing and auditory training for adults as well as children. Many adults find that once their skills are properly assessed, they get clear answers and see real improvements. If you suspect these challenges may be affecting you, you can learn more on our Adults with APD page or complete our free Adult APD Symptoms Questionnaire.

Free Online APD Symptom Screener

If you suspect that listening difficulties might be related to Auditory Processing Disorder, you can complete our free online APD questionnaire, the Buffalo Model Questionnaire-Revised (BMQ-R) to screen for auditory processing symptoms. This short, parent- or self-reported questionnaire screens for common auditory processing challenges such as listening in noise, following directions, memory, and organization. You’ll receive instant results with explanations and next-step guidance.
TAKE THE FREE BMQ-R Screening

We Specialize in APD Assessment and Treatment

APD is treatable. Some types of APD can be completely remediated within a few months. However, no two individuals with APD are the same. Since there are different types of APD, symptoms will vary from person to person.

Auditory Processing Center specializes in the assessment and treatment of auditory processing disorder. APD evaluations can be performed for children ages five and up, and adults are also seen for APD testing and therapy. In addition, Auditory Processing Center also offers Virtual Auditory Processing Evaluations and Teletherapy for auditory processing disorder. Therapy through Auditory Processing Center is highly individualized based on each person’s specific deficits. By customizing treatment and addressing any coexisting issues, children and adults can improve their listening skills, regain confidence, and reach their full potential. Contact us to learn more or schedule a consultation.

Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Contact Us - Auditory Processing Center - Clinton, MS
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Want to speak with us right away?

We offer a free 10-minute consultation to help you briefly discuss your concerns and determine the best next steps.

Call (601) 488-4189 during office hours for the quickest response.

You may also email info@auditorycenter.com, though email replies may take longer.

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If you are seeking a detailed record review, in-depth guidance, or a written consultation report with personalized recommendations, please ask about our comprehensive paid consultation services.