Auditory Processing Disorder Adelaide

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What Makes Our APD Hearing Test Special

South Australia Speech and Hearing Centre (SASHC) is an independent service provider that is owned and run by a dual qualified speech pathologist and audiologist. The SASHC team specialises in formally diagnosing APD and working with the individual’s difficulty using a multidisciplinary approach to maximise outcomes.

APD Checklist

This checklist is intended as a guide only and is not a standalone diagnostic tool.

Have an APD appointment?

Please complete these online forms before your first APD Appointment.

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) or Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) occurs when an individual has normal hearing but struggles to listen. This condition is thought to be due to an inability to process speech sounds accurately.

Children and adults with APD have difficulty recognising differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard. This is often more challenging when there is background noise, for example, in a classroom.

Up to 7% of children have Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). If your child presents with 2 or more of the risk factors below, they may be struggling with APD.

My child lacks concentration
My child is easily distracted
My child fatigues easily in and after school
My child gets confused and needs instructions to be repeated
My child forgets what is said easily
My child complains of sounds being too loud
My child requires instructions to be shortened
My child lacks attention in school
My child has difficulty sounding out words
My child often hesitates before answering a question
My child does not appear to listen from the start
My child sometimes appears fidgety/not with it/day dreamy

How is APD diagnosed?

Audiologists are the recognised allied health professional for assessment and diagnosis of APD.

All APD assessments begin with an initial hearing test along with a test of middle ear function in order to ensure that hearing is normal.

A series of ‘listening games’ is then performed using state of the art equipment in a fully sound proof booth to determine auditory processing abilities. These abilities are then compared to results from children or adults of the same age who do not have APD in order to evaluate whether the skills are age appropriate.

At SASHC, our APD test battery is performed over 3 sessions.

The initial appointment is a full diagnostic hearing assessment. This allows us to proceed with the APD test battery. Should an individual have a hearing loss or middle ear issues, we will not be able to follow on with the APD assessments as we will need to manage the hearing loss/ear health issues. If a hearing assessment has been completed in the last 6 months and a report is provided, this appointment may not be needed. (Up to 30 minutes)

At the second appointment the audiologist will go through the case history and have a discussion with the patient about their listening concerns. The audiologist will then begin the test battery. Some of the tests carried out may be done with headphones, and some may be live voice. Parents and significant others will be able to follow the test as they will be provided with the target responses (Up to 1 hour)

At the final appointment the remaining tests are completed, and the audiologist will go through the assessment results and discuss recommendations (Up to 1 hour)

The report will be sent out within 2 weeks of the final APD assessment appointment.

In order to ensure we have the information needed to provide a clear diagnosis, we require APD assessment forms to be completed prior to the assessment. This information helps us provide a thorough evaluation of the difficulties and ensure that recommendations made are tailored to the patient’s needs.

What if my child is diagnosed as having APD?

If your child is diagnosed with APD, SASHC will provide comprehensive recommendations on how your child’s ‘listening’ skills can be improved. SASHC is able to provide:

Individual 1:1 listening training targeting the ability to process speech and language in a range of environments
Individualised speech pathology intervention to improve the areas of language processing and/or literacy development that your child struggles with
Consultation with your child’s teacher or school on classroom acoustics and tactics to improve your child’s ability to hear and process classroom instructions and the curriculum
A listening device may be recommended to help your child hear their teacher and yourself more clearly

What are the benefits of coming to SASHC for APD assessment?

APD crosses the line between hearing and language. SASHC is a unique centre that places audiology and speech pathology in the one location. The assessment and intervention of your child will encompass a holistic approach so your child’s abilities are viewed as a ‘whole’. SASHC therapists will be constantly assessing your child’s speech and language skills throughout the APD assessments to ensure that there are no underlying language issues that may cloud the diagnosis of APD or need addressing separately.