If a child has trouble comprehending instructions, mixes up words with similar enunciations, or seems disoriented in loud surroundings, parents may presume that a hearing problem is to blame. However, in some circumstances, the issue may not lie with the ears themselves, but instead with a condition known as auditory processing disorder (APD), which impacts the way the brain deals with sound.
Hearing loss and APD have many of the same symptoms, but they’re really very different conditions that demand specific evaluations and support. Below, we’ll break down the key differences to help you support your child’s distinct requirements.
What is Hearing Loss?
Impaired auditory function, also known as hearing loss, takes place when a person’s ability to perceive sound is diminished, often resulting from issues impacting the outer, middle, or inner ear.
Three primary classifications:
- Conductive hearing loss: Triggered by obstructions or damage in the outer or middle ear (like ear infections or wax accumulation)
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Consists of damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, typically due to aging, noise exposure, or genetics
- Mixed hearing loss: A mix of conductive and sensorineural types
Doctors usually diagnose patients by conducting tests including audiograms, auditory brainstem response testing (ABR), and acoustic emission testing. If a child suffers from hearing loss, the issue lies in their ability to detect sound to begin with.
What Does Auditory Processing Disorder Mean?
APD, conversely, is not a hearing problem; it’s a brain-based issue with interpreting sounds. Kids with APD can hear just fine, but they have difficulty making sense of what they hear.
It’s often referred to as “perceiving sounds without grasping their meaning.”
Some common challenges include:
- Trouble following multi-step verbal directions
- Struggling to distinguish between similar sounds or words
- Having difficulty concentrating in loud settings (such as schools or busy eateries)
- Having difficulty understanding humor, irony, or expressions that aren’t meant to be taken literally
A basic hearing exam might indicate no issues because the ears are working normally. However, it does not indicate that everything is operating correctly. In Auditory Processing Disorder, the problem happens not with hearing the sound itself, but rather with how the brain translates and processes the sound after it has been sensed.
How Testing and Diagnosis Vary
To diagnose hearing loss, audiologists use traditional hearing tests that measure sound detection. Pinpointing Auditory Processing Disorder involves more in-depth assessments that go beyond basic hearing evaluations.
Multidisciplinary teams will typically include:
- A hearing specialist to assess how the brain interprets sound
- A speech-language pathologist to evaluate language comprehension and communication
- A psychologist to rule out attention or learning differences that may look similar to APD
Treatment and Support Options
Treatment options for children with hearing loss diagnosis:
- Hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Assistive listening devices
- Medical or surgical interventions
Support for Children with APD Diagnosis Typically Includes:
- Speech-language therapy
- Classroom accommodations (e.g., seating changes, written directions)
- Environmental modifications to reduce background noise
- Auditory processing therapy
APD vs. Hearing Loss: Final Thoughts
It’s important to differentiate between hearing loss and auditory processing disorder in order to provide your child with the most effective assistance and accommodations. If your child appears to have trouble with listening despite having a normal hearing test, continue to explore further. A deeper look at how they process sound could reveal what’s really happening. Children with the appropriate diagnosis and customized treatment strategy can succeed academically, in their home environment, and in various other aspects of their lives.
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Sources:.
About Hearing Loss in Children|Hearing Loss in Children|CDC.
Auditory processing disorder (APD)– Symptoms and causes– Mayo Clinic.
Auditory Processing Disorder vs. Hearing Loss: Key Differences.
Understanding the Differences: Auditory Processing Disorder vs. Hearing Loss|Hearing.
Associates of Las Vegas.
Auditory Processing Disorder (for Parents)|Nemours KidsHealth.