When a child struggles to follow instructions, confuses words that have similar sounds, or seems distracted in loud places, parents might question if hearing loss is the problem. However, in certain instances, the problem might not lie with the ears themselves, but instead with a condition known as auditory processing disorder (APD), which impacts the way the brain processes sound.
Hearing loss and APD share many of the same symptoms, but they’re actually very different conditions that require specific assessments and support. Below, we’ll break down the key differences to help you support your child’s unique needs.
What is Hearing Loss?
Impaired auditory function, also known as hearing loss, happens when a person’s capacity to sense sound is diminished, frequently resulting from problems affecting the outer, middle, or inner ear.
Three primary classifications:
- Conductive hearing loss: Occurs as a result of obstructions or injury in the outer or middle ear, including ear infections or accumulation of earwax
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Happens when there is damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, which is typically caused by factors including aging, exposure to loud noise, or genetic predisposition
- Mixed hearing loss: A mix of conductive and sensorineural types
Doctors normally diagnose patients by conducting tests such as audiograms, auditory brainstem response testing (ABR), and acoustic emission testing. If a child has hearing loss, the issue lies in their ability to detect sound in the first place.
What Does Auditory Processing Disorder Mean?
APD, conversely, is not a hearing issue; it’s a brain-based problem with deciphering sounds. Children with Auditory Processing Disorder might have normal hearing, but they struggle to decipher and understand the sounds they hear.
It’s often referred to as “perceiving sounds without grasping their meaning.”
Common obstacles faced in everyday situations:
- Trouble following multi-step verbal directions
- Difficulty differentiating similar sounds or words
- Having trouble focusing in loud settings (such as schools or busy eateries)
- Misunderstanding jokes, sarcasm, or figurative language
Because the ears are working normally, a standard hearing test might come back revealing no issues. But that doesn’t mean all is functioning as it should. In Auditory Processing Disorder, the issue occurs not with hearing the sound itself, but rather with how the brain translates and processes the sound after it has been detected.
Differentiating Between Testing and Diagnosis
Audiologists utilize conventional auditory evaluations to detect hearing impairments by assessing an individual’s ability to sense sound. Identifying Auditory Processing Disorder involves more in-depth assessments that extend beyond standard hearing tests.
Multidisciplinary teams will usually include:
- An audiologist to evaluate auditory processing abilities
- A speech-language pathologist to evaluate language comprehension and communication
- A psychologist should be consulted to identify any underlying attention or learning disorders that might imitate the symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Approaches for Treatment and Assistance
Treatment options for children with hearing loss diagnosis:
- Hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Assistive listening devices
- Medical or surgical interventions
Or, if your child is diagnosed with APD, support usually involves:
- Speech-language therapy
- Classroom accommodations (e.g., seating changes, written instructions)
- Environmental modifications to reduce background noise
- Auditory processing therapy
APD vs. Hearing Loss: Final Thoughts
It’s essential to distinguish between hearing loss and auditory processing disorder in order to provide your child with the most reliable support and accommodations. If your child appears to have difficulty with listening in spite of having a normal hearing test, continue to explore further. The real problem may only be pinpointed by more in-depth evaluations. Children with the proper diagnosis and personalized treatment approach can excel academically, in their home environment, and in a variety of 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.
