Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Assessment in Adelaide
Audiology Australia Accredited| NDIS | Medicare | Private Health Funds | DVA
For an experienced team who can diagnose and manage APD, SASHC has local clinicians that you can count on for quality service. Our independent, multidisciplinary clinic is owned and operated by a dual qualified audiologist and speech pathologist, making SASHC a convenient and comprehensive option for paediatric and adult APD and speech intervention. Find out more about how SASHC can help you or your loved one understand, manage, and navigate auditory processing difficulties on (08) 8272 9997.
Why Choose SASHC for APD Services in Adelaide
Dual-Qualified Clinical Leadership
Our Managing Director, Niva, is a highly trained clinician who is one of very few professionals dual-qualified in both audiology and speech pathology. She continues to practice in both disciplines and this makes her uniquely well-placed to diagnose and treat all aspects of APD right at its source.
A Multidisciplinary Approach Under One Roof
With speech pathologists, audiologists and counsellors working in partnership everyday, our patients receive comprehensive and holistic treatment of speech, language and hearing problems, which are often deeply connected to each other, particularly in APD. Our clinicians can screen for both underlying speech and language deficiencies during an audiology assessment.
Experienced Adelaide Audiologists
Established in 2014, we’ve been diagnosing and treating hearing problems for Adelaide families for over a decade. All our comprehensive audiology assessments are delivered by professional audiologists who are registered members of Audiology Australia.
Independent, Evidence-Based Practice
We’re a proudly independent speech and audiology service provider without affiliations to manufacturers or funding bodies. This means that all our recommendations are based on individual results and evidence, not commercial incentives.
Clear Reports Schools and Referrers Can Use
Communication is important, and we provide patient reports that are comprehensive, easy to understand, and suitable for schools, GPs, paediatricians and NDIS planners. We also provide ongoing support for schools in implementing recommendations.
Comprehensive Solutions for Adults and Children
We provide comprehensive solutions for both adults and children. We work with you holistically to identify every area of difficulty and develop a support plan tailored to your lifestyle whether you are a child at school or an adult working in a busy office setting.
Meet Our Adelaide APD Audiologists
Our expert team of SASHC audiologists are all full members of Audiology Australia who are fully trained, qualified and certified to perform assessments and provide treatment in a wide range of aural disorders.
Niva
BSc (Biomed) (Hons), MSpPath, MAud, MSPAA CPSP, MAudA (CCP)
Ben
MAud, MAudA CCP
What Is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?
Also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), APD is a neurological condition where the brain struggles to process sounds from the ears. Affected patients have normal hearing but have trouble interpreting and making sense of sounds. This condition makes it difficult to separate speech from background noise. It’s thought that up to 7% of children are affected by APD, but it can remain undiagnosed well into adulthood.
How APD Differs from Hearing Loss
Patients diagnosed with APD have normal hearing and pass a standard hearing test. Therefore, APD requires a separate auditory processing test to detect. While a patient’s ability to hear sounds isn’t the issue; they are unable to process the sounds properly and make sense of them, so they struggle to respond appropriately, making it seem as if they’re hard of hearing. For this reason, APD requires a different treatment approach compared to hearing loss.
Who Can Be Affected by APD?
APD affects children and adults, and at SASHC, we can assess patients for APD from the age of 5. Common risk factors and co-occurring conditions include a history of middle ear infections, language delays and learning difficulties. Our clinic incorporates a multidisciplinary assessment approach designed to comprehensively assess for APD alongside related conditions such as ADHD, autism and language disorders, helping to build a clearer picture of your child’s needs.
Signs and Symptoms of Auditory Processing Difficulties
The following list of signs and symptoms is a guide, not a diagnostic tool for APD. If two or more of the following apply, an APD assessment may be worth considering:
Signs of APD in Children
My child is showing signs of:
- Poor concentration
- Being easily distracted
- Fatigue during and after school
- Poor attention at school
- Needing instructions repeated
- Complaining that sounds are too loud
- Hesitating before answering questions
- Fidgety behaviour
Signs of APD in Adults
Adult auditory processing signs include:
- Difficulty following conversations in noisy venues
- Frequent mishearing
- Listening fatigue
- Struggles with rapid speech or accents
- Avoidance of group situations
- Forgetfulness
APD Checklist — A Guide Only
Concerned that your child could be dealing with APD? Download our interactive checklist here to see how many signs and symptoms you or your loved one could be experiencing. Remember, this checklist does not substitute a professional audiologist assessment.
Our APD Assessment Process
Conducted by our certified audiologists, our APD assessments are comprehensive, gentle and tailored to the pace that you or your child requires. Our test battery involves 3 separate stages:
Diagnostic Hearing Assessment (up to 30 mins)
To rule out hearing loss or ear health issues which can affect an APD diagnosis, it’s important that our audiologists conduct a full diagnostic hearing test and middle ear assessment first. If you’ve had a recent hearing test in the last 6 months, we won’t need to complete it again if you can provide us with a copy of your assessment and report.
Case History & APD Test Battery (up to 1 hour)
We’ll take a detailed case history which includes a discussion about you or your child’s hearing and listening concerns, then begin with the first block of listening tests which are conducted through live voice and headphones. Parents and support workers in attendance can follow along with targeted responses and act as a secondary diagnostic differentiator.
Final Testing & Recommendations (up to 1 hour)
The final block of listening tests are completed and your audiologist will walk you through the results and diagnosis. This is followed by a discussion of a tailored therapy plan.
Your Comprehensive APD Report
Issued within 2 weeks of the final appointment, your report is written clearly in language that is appropriate for all professionals involved in you or your child’s care, including teachers, NDIS planners, GPs and paediatricians.
Your report includes a discussion of the diagnosis, results interpretation, as well as school, therapy and device recommendations where relevant.
APD Treatment and Support Services After Diagnosis
A diagnosis is only the beginning of your APD journey, and our experienced audiologists are here to support you in reaching your therapy goals as soon as possible.
1:1 Auditory Training and Listening Therapy
Conducted by audiologists and/or speech pathologists, our clinically proven, individualised listening training programs are specially designed to target speech and language processing disorders across a wide range of environments.
Speech Pathology Intervention
Where needed, we offer concurrent support services for language processing, literacy and comprehension where needed, alongside our audiology treatments.
School Consultation and Classroom Strategies
As part of SASHC’s school partnership approach to help optimise learning environments for all students, we can consult with teachers on classroom acoustics, seating, instruction delivery, and listening tactics.
Listening Devices and Assistive Technology
While patients with APD have normal hearing and see significant improvements to their quality of life with APD therapy, there are a small number of patients who still require listening devices and assistive technology.
This is because they are experiencing severe communication and listening impairments which cause great difficulty at work and school and also when performing other important daily tasks.
What Our Clients Say
FAQs About Auditory Processing Disorder in Adelaide
At what age can APD be assessed?
As the auditory system is still developing in young children, the best age for an accurate initial APD assessment is at least 7 years.
Is APD the same as ADHD or autism?
No, APD is a distinct condition that is separate to ADHD and autism, but its symptoms can overlap. This is why a multidisciplinary assessment can be critical in distinguishing APD from co-occurring conditions.
Do I need a referral for an APD assessment?
No, a referral is not necessary for an APD assessment, but reports from GPs, teachers or paediatricians help tailor the assessment itself to directly investigate the root cause of you or your child’s symptoms.
Can adults have an APD assessment?
Yes, SASHC assesses adults experiencing auditory processing difficulties.
Will my child need a listening device after diagnosis?
Not usually. Devices are only recommended when clinically indicated based on assessment results.
Do you work with schools and teachers as part of the APD process?
Yes, we partner with Adelaide schools, paediatricians, GPs and psychologists to enhance your child’s learning environment. We offer the APD Teacher Questionnaire as a practical tool for teachers to promote awareness of APD in children as they are well positioned to look for subtle initial signs for early intervention.
Can SASHC attend school meetings or provide classroom strategies?
Yes, our team can attend school meetings or provide written classroom strategies to support the improvement of learning spaces for children with APD.
How much does an APD assessment cost?
A full APD assessment can vary in length and duration depending on your individual clinical presentation. For a more detailed quote, contact our team on (08) 8272 9997 for more information.
We are certified NDIS providers, accept Medicare chronic disease management plans and offer private health rebates on our services.
Contact Us for an APD Assessment in Adelaide
Book Your Adelaide Session Today
Ready to fix your hearing and listening problems once and for all? With two convenient locations at Mawson Lakes and Cumberland Park, our clinics have limited wait times for patient-focused service that is guaranteed to address the root cause of your hearing difficulties, including APD. Contact us today on (08) 8272 9997 or leave your details in our enquiry form for a callback request. Your information is kept confidential in line with our Confidentiality Policy.
We accept all health funds
Product partners
Government Funded Schemes
