Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)

Does your child have difficulty hearing in background noise, at times seems not to hear and has problems following long instructions?
He or she may have Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD).

CAPD refers to the way our brains manage sound. So although they may breeze through a hearing test, they have very real problems hearing and this can affect their ability to learn to read and spell and certainly affects their self confidence. The problem is more common than we think with one or two kids in the average classroom suffering with CAPD.

A parent or teacher may suspect CAPD if a child has:

• difficulty following instructions
• a short attention span
• a lower reading ability
• difficulty learning in background noise or in group environments
• poorer verbal abilities
• low self esteem
• is easily distracted

Of course many of these problems do not separate CAPD from many other disorders. This is why assessment for the disorder needs to be done by audiologists with additional training in this area using tests specifically designed to isolate those kids whose brains are not processing the timing aspects of speech.

So what can be done?

This problem may resolve with maturation of the auditory system or it may carry on into adulthood making studying and functioning in noisy environments at work impossible. For more information contact one of Western Hearing Services clinics on 1800 622 121 .