Diagnosing Auditory Processing Disorders

Someone with an Auditory Processing Disorder may have normal hearing.  Because of this, it takes special testing to identify an APD.  This begins by asking the following questions: 

* Do you have trouble hearing clearly in a noisy environment?

* Do you sometimes make "silly" mistakes or "careless" errors when completing a job assignment?

* Do you miss important sounds or signals that others hear easily?

* Do you have trouble following a series of spoken instructions?  Do you consistently forget instructions?

* Do you hear less well or become less attentive/productive in ordinarily busy surroundings?

Upon suspicion that an APD may be present, testing is performed to determine where a breakdown is occurring along the auditory pathway that is causing the person to have difficulty processing auditory information.  

Judith Paton, a clinical audiologist in California, details a full list of subtypes of APD that manifest themselves in multiple ways. 

Ms. Paton also points out that "The most accurate way to sort out APDs from other problems that mimic them, is through clinical audiologic tests of central nervous system function.  These include tests of auditory memory for sentences, syllables, or numbers, sequencing, tonal pattern recognition or sound blending, and storage of general information which is most often acquired through listening."

Find more information about Ms. Paton's APD research by visiting her website. 

Causes and Treatment of Auditory Processing Disorders

Causes of APD

There are many possible causes of Auditory Processing Disorders.  Among them are:

- Extreme premature birth

- Auditory neuropathy

- Frequent ear infections

- Brain Trauma

However, a vast majority of APD cases have no identifiable cause.

  

Treatment of APD

There are two primary ways a clinical audiologist or speech-language pathologist can treat APD.

  

1.  Therapy

2.  Lifestyle Strategies

 

Therapy

Therapy for APD centers on the attempt to train the brain to distinguish sound (particularly speech) in the presence of background noise.  CDs and programs like LACE and Earobics have proven effective for helping APD sufferers train their brain to more clearly process speech when background noise is present.

  

Lifestyle Strategies

Working with an audiologist trained in the remediation of APD includes creating strategies to help the individual avoid or limit exposure to noisy environments.  Topics like where to sit in a restaurant to get optimal sound or how to arrange furniture to promote clearer communication in the home are addressed.

For more information on Auditory Processing Disorders, visit our website!

Hearing Loss or Auditory Processing Disorder? Part 2

Hearing loss and Auditory Processing Disorders differ in a variety of ways.  A person experiencing hearing loss has difficulty hearing sounds while a person with APD has difficulty understanding and differentiating what is heard.  Hearing loss occurs in the inner, middle, or outer ear and impacts the individual's ability to hear auditory stimuli.  APD occurs in the brain along the auditory pathway and impacts the individual's ability to understand and comprehend auditory stimuli.  People with APD have trouble understanding in noise no matter how well they may hear. 

Sometimes an individual could be experiencing both a hearing loss and an auditory processing disorder.  Ultimately, the only reliable way to determine if you are experiencing a hearing loss and/or  APD is to undergo several tests administered by an audiologist.  Part of a thorough hearing evaluation includes tests that determine if an auditory processing disorder could be present. 

If you feel like you may be experiencing an auditory processing disorder, please don't hesitate to call one of our offices and schedule a no-charge consult with one of our clinical audiologists.

Hearing Loss or Auditory Processing Disorder? Part 1

Do you have trouble understanding speech in the presence of background noise?  Sometimes this is due to an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).
APD is the auditory equivalent of dyslexia.  An Auditory Processing Disorder impacts the way the brain processes auditory information and leads to difficulties in recognizing and interpreting sounds; particularly speech. 

Common symptoms of APD include:

* Difficulty understanding speech in the presence of     background noise

* Inability to tell where a sound is coming from

* Inability to discern the difference between sounds

Click here to read more about APD and its symptoms.

Digital versus Analog Hearing Instruments

There are currently two types of hearing aids: Analog and Digital.  Analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electrical waves, which provide an accurate sound reading. Digital hearing aids convert sound waves using exact mathematical calculations, which produce an exact duplication of sound. As a result, the sound quality produced by digital hearing aids is significantly higher than the quality of sound produced by analog hearing aids.

 The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers this comparison of digital and analog hearing aids.

For more information, visit our website!

Wireless Technology For Hearing Aids With T-Coils

The T-Coil in a hearing aid is a loop of wire that picks up the magnetic signal of a device (such as a phone) through induction.  If a hearing aid has a t-coil, it will have a little switch or button that the user can move or push to choose between the microphone and t-coil.  When the user of a hearing aid with a t-coil flips the switch from M (for microphone) to T (for t-coil), the microphone in the hearing aid is turned off entirely, and the only sounds the hearing aid can hear are the magnetic signals coming from a device such as a phone.  Hearing aids with t-coils are not bluetooth compatible.  However, there are new advances that enable these hearing aids to wirelessly connect to a cell phone or television.  For example, a new neck loop has been developed that can wirelessly connect your cell phone to your t-coil equipped hearing aids.  With this neck loop, it is possible to talk on your cell phone hands-free.  Contact our offices to find out if this device is right for you.

 

 

TV Ears has also developed wireless technology to enable t-coil equipped hearing aids hear the volume of the television without the use of headphones.  It is now possible to use TV Ears without headphones if your hearing aids are T-coil enabled.  Now you can clearly hear your friends and family while enjoying your favorite shows.  For more information, visit the TV Ears website and view the video describing the TV Ears Link System.

 

For more information, don't hesitate to contact our offices.

The World's FIRST TRULY WATERPROOF Hearing Aid!

The Siemens Aquaris satisfies the Food & Drug Administration criteria to qualify as the first truly waterproof hearing aid.  The completely sealed housing shell and battery door enables the Aquaris to be completely waterproof. 

Click here to view the Aquaris!

 

The watertight housing and moisture-resistant surface of the Aquaris safeguard the electronics from corrosion and efficiently repel dust, sweat, and dirt. Enjoy outdoor recreation or exercise without the fear of damaging your hearing aid.  Make your golf partner sweat instead of your hearing aids!

Offered in two performance levels, the Aquaris features:

- Feedback stopper which automatically detects and stops feedback

- Speech Focus which helps you hear and understand what's being said from any direction

- SoundLearning 2.0 which learns and automatically adjusts to your individual hearing preferences

- Bluetooth Technology which wirelessly connects to phones, MP3 players, TVs and other audio devices so you can listen to them while you swim.
 

Learn about the advanced technology of the Aquaris!

 - The Aquapac -

Listen to your iPod while you swim and talk on your cell phone while you fish or kayak! 

Waterproof and water pressure resistant, the Aquapac is perfect for storing your small electronic devices like remote controls, mobile phones, or MP3 players when at the pool or in contact with the elements.

 - Tek and miniTek -

Wirelessly connect to phones, MP3 players, TVs and other audio devices. Stream stereo sound directly to your Aquaris.

- The Sport Clip -

The Sport Clip securely attaches the Aquaris to your ear, preventing the loss or displacement of your hearing aids while you enjoy your favorite extreme activities.

 

 

To find out if the Aquaris is right for your particular type of hearing loss and lifestyle, visit our website or call our offices to schedule a no-charge consult with one of our clinical audiologists!