A Clear Guide to Auditory Processing Disorder
Clinical Examination for Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory processing disorder affects how the brain interprets sound, even when hearing tests appear normal. It is common in both children and adults and often manageable with the right support. An urgent audiovestibular medicine review is needed if difficulties appear suddenly, worsen rapidly, follow a head injury or illness, or occur alongside neurological symptoms or marked balance problems.
Sound Interpretation Difficulties
An Overview of Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory processing disorder occurs when the brain has difficulty organising and making sense of sounds, despite the ears detecting them normally. People may hear sounds clearly but struggle to follow speech, especially in noisy environments, when instructions are fast, or when listening for long periods. This can affect attention, comprehension, and listening confidence.
The condition can appear in childhood or adulthood and may be linked to developmental factors, head injury, illness, or neurological differences. Symptoms vary widely and often become more noticeable in complex listening situations such as classrooms or workplaces. Auditory processing disorder does not reflect intelligence or effort. Understanding how the brain processes sound helps guide supportive strategies and appropriate management.
Pinpointing the Cause
Diagnosing Auditory Processing Disorder
When to Get Checked
Listening difficulties are common, but certain patterns suggest the need for specialist assessment to rule out medical or neurological causes and to guide appropriate support.
You should get assessed if listening problems appear suddenly, worsen quickly, follow a head injury or illness, affect one ear more than the other, or interfere significantly with learning, work, or communication. Urgent review is also needed if difficulties occur alongside speech regression, balance problems, headaches, seizures, or other neurological symptoms.
How We Assess Auditory Processing Disorder
At Harley AVM, our assessments centre on understanding how listening difficulties show up in real situations. We explore attention, listening effort, memory for spoken information, and challenges in noisy settings. We also review developmental history, education or work demands, medical background, and any changes following illness or injury. This helps us decide whether difficulties relate to sound processing rather than hearing sensitivity alone.
Assessment is tailored to the individual and may include pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, speech-in-noise testing, tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold testing, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, and dedicated auditory processing tests. The senior audiovestibular clinician we have leads the process, ensuring results are interpreted within the full listening and neurological context.
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Specialist Tests to Assess Hearing, Balance and Inner Ear Health
Harley Street Specialists in Hearing, Dizziness & Balance
Specialist Care for Auditory Processing Disorder
Every Auditory Processing Disorder case is different. Your consultant will create a tailored plan to address your specific symptoms and lifestyle – when it started, how it affects your day, and which tests and treatments are right for you.