Transcript Earobics - Michelle Meyer Ngai

Auditory Processing Disorder
“A riddle wrapped
in a mystery
inside an enigma.”
What is Auditory Processing
Disorder?
A term used to
describe a wide
range of disabilities
in which there is
some impairment in
the brain’s ability to
process auditory
stimuli and interpret
it in a meaningful
way.
The IDEA Act defines Auditory
Processing disorder as “a disability that
causes problems in comprehending the
social and interpersonal content of
language…stemming from the fact that
the disability makes it difficult to
separate communication from
background noise.”
Some Characteristics
• Difficulty understanding
spoken language in
competing messages,
noisy backgrounds, or
reverberant environments
• Difficulty maintaining
focus on an activity if
other sounds are present
More Characteristics
• Misunderstood messages
• Inconsistent or
inappropriate responses
• Frequent requests for
repetition
• Difficulty with long
conversations or multi-step
directions
• Difficulty with reading,
spelling or other learning
Incidence
• From 2-3% to 7% of the population
• Twice as prevalent in males than in females
• Most widely diagnosed in children and the elderly
Potential Causes
• The cause is often unknown, but it could be
– Genetic
– Tumor
– Head trauma
– Viral infection
– Degenerative disorder
– Lead poisoning
– Oxygen deprivation
Accommodations/Modifications/Strategies
Environmental Modifications
Signal Enhancement Strategies
(including assistive technology
and instructional strategies)
Auditory Training
Environmental Modifications
• Simple modifications
– Installing carpets
– Curtains
– Seals on doors
– Rubber shoes on doors
• Architectural
interventions
Instructional Modifications
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Repetition
Rephrasing
Slowed speech
Shortened speech
Emphasis of key points
Increased response time
Visual aids
Multimedia reinforcement
Assistive Technology
Auditory training software
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive Listening Devices
• Assistive listening devices are used for hearing improvement in
large area listening situations made more difficult due to noise,
distance, and reverberation.
FM systems
The teacher speaks into a microphone which transmits the
sounds to the child’s ear through a receiver the child is wearing.
Auditory Training Software
Earobics
Intended to improve phonological, attention, and
memory skills
PHONOMENA
Used to improve auditory discrimination
Geared toward improving auditory and
language processing abilities
Community Resources
• internet communities for parents
• CAPD Parents’ Page
• Adults with CAPD