Common Challenges Faced by Children with Auditory Processing Disorder
Children diagnosed with auditory processing disorder often encounter several problem areas that affect their communication and understanding. These challenges include difficulties with auditory figure-ground, dichotic listening, and auditory closure.
Auditory Figure-Ground: One common problem area for children with auditory processing disorder is auditory figure-ground. This refers to the struggle of understanding speech when there is background noise or multiple conversations happening simultaneously. The child may find it challenging to focus on and comprehend the desired speech amidst the ambient chatter or noise.
Dichotic Listening: Another challenge experienced by children with auditory processing disorder is dichotic listening. This refers to the inability to understand and process meaningful speech when it is presented simultaneously from two or more speakers. The competing speech makes it difficult for the child to differentiate and comprehend the intended message.
Auditory Closure: Children with auditory processing disorder may also face difficulties with auditory closure. This refers to the challenge of processing speech that is too fast or muffled. The child may struggle to fill in missing information or comprehend the complete message due to the rapid pace or unclear articulation of the speech.
Conditions That Disqualify Children from Auditory Processing Disorder Testing
Regrettably, there are certain circumstances under which not all children are eligible for auditory processing disorder (APD) testing. To undergo this evaluation, children must meet specific criteria. Firstly, they need to be at least six or seven years old. However, there are additional factors that disqualify children from APD testing.
Children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, Down syndrome, hearing loss, intellectual disability, below average IQ, or a significant speech or language disorder are not eligible for APD testing. These conditions may interfere with the accuracy of the results or make it challenging to differentiate between the symptoms of the underlying condition and APD.