|
      |
|
What is it? What is it?Auditory processing is how sounds are transmitted after they leave the inner ear and travel along the nerve pathway to the brain. Sometimes there is a breakdown in the transmission of sound and it can cause learning difficulties, usually with reading and spelling but it can affect other subjects as well. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) has many subcategories and it must be determined through proper testing where the individual is having problems. The most common areas are auditory memory, auditory figure/ground (problems hearing in noise), phonemic decoding, temporal aspects of speech understanding, and auditory closure.. What are the signs/characteristics?
A qualified audiologist is the only professional that can do comprehensive diagnostic APD testing. Dr. Schwalbach is the leading expert in APD in the Shenandoah Valley. It is very important that a diagnosis is NOT made based solely on screening tests but rather with a comprehensive test battery coupled with a thorough case history. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the evaluation. A comprehensive hearing evaluation must be done first to rule out hearing loss. Once normal hearing is confirmed, the APD portion of the exam will be administered. A follow-up conference will be scheduled within a week to discuss the results. Children as young as 5 years old can be screened but 7 years old and up is recommended for a complete diagnostic evaluation. Adults can and are frequently tested as well. Once all of the data has been collected, Dr. Schwalbach will make recommendations designed to target each individual's problem areas. It may include any or all of the following, but will not be limited to:
If you, your child, or student is suspected of having APD, call our office at (540) 574-HEAR (4327) for an appointment. |
|
(540) 574-HEAR (4327) Honest Answers, Expert Advice, Incredible Results. |