Auditory Processing Disorder - Please help.

Jen, I have a six year old son, Miles, who was diagnosed earlier this year with CAPD (central auditory processing disorder). In my experience, it is, in fact, an audiologist that you need. Many go by “Dr” although they technically are not; don’t let that put you off. They are the ones you need to accurately diagnosis CAPD (there are a number of specific tests that you’re looking for.) There is a decent amount of info about CAPD on the web and some good books; check out this link for some good, general info: http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=988

Also, I would recommend a couple of books: “When the Brain Can’t Hear” is one, and I just finished one I really liked, “Like Sound Through Water.” “Like Sound…” gave me a better sense of a real, personal story that outlined some of the therapies that are out there. There are a lot of them and you’ll get used to navigating some of them soon; as an example, my son will be starting the Tomatis Method soon and will probably follow it up with the Lips program and/or Earobics. Believe it or not, it’s great your pediatrician could identify the issue; just keep at it and educate yourself as much as you can. You’ll need the right practitioner, of course, but it helps to know some of the questions to ask as well. Hope this helps you. Trust ma, a lot of us have been where you are.

My son is now 11 and going into the 5th grade (he repeated 1st grade) and his teacher said that she thinks he has this but we live in a small town and no one has heard of it or where to go for a diagnosis. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

There are some good places to learn about CAPD.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/ladle/index.html This site gives you a visual of what it might sound like to have CAPD. I found it very helpful in understanding why my dd always got certain words wrong.

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/understand-apd-child.htm Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children by Teri James Bellis, PhD, CCC-A

http://www.iser.com/caparticle.html LIVING AND WORKING WITH A CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (CAPD) by Judith W. Paton, M. A., Audiologist, San Mateo, CA

There are also a number of books. Do a search at Amazon.com and you will come up with several good ones.

I had it done last year with an audiologist at Children’s Specialized hospital. I’m sure many audiologists can do the test.

It was a 2 day test for 1 1/2 hours long. The physician did the basic hearing test 1 day and did the auditory processing test the next day.

My son was not yet 7, so his results were inaccurate. Also, since my son has expressive language difficulty and some articulation errors, she was not able to understand what he was saying or get a description of it. The only therapy for that is speech therapy and my son already gets that in school.

It is best to do CAPD when they are at least 8 or 9 because the mylean sheath of the brain is still thinning out. So, CAPD is not a disorder until kids are older. Also, CAPD is not a primary diagnosis. CAPD is secondary to a primary diagnosis. So, you are still looking for something more global.

The Child Study Team at school can do a detailed evaluation with language (expressive and receptive), fine motor, gross motor, social learning and IQ testing. They can offer speech or occupational therapies or pullouts for reading and writing.

We see a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician. A pediatric neurologoist can also see your child and follow up each year. Let us know how you make out with it.
[Modified by: annette10dance on August 04, 2008 02:11 PM]

My 5 year old son was diagnosed earlier this year with Mixed receptive/expressive language disorder. I was under the impression that it is the same as an Auditory Processing Disorder. Am I wrong? He receives speech once a week in school and we pay for speech outside of school once a week for 45 mins. I’m in Chicago. He just started kindergarten. I would love to hear from anybody else who has a child with this disorder.

This site has not been updated for several years, but may give you some additional names/resources for audiologists who test for CAPD:

http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/capd-rf2.html

Only an audiologist can test for CAPD, but an SLP can then evaluate your child’s perception of speech and how that may impact receptive/expressive language delays.(ex. TAPS test)

I think it’s important to get tests from both audiologist and SLP to fully understand how the CAPD may be effecting your language processing.

We went to the audiology research dept at our local university as well as a private SLP who did a complete Auditory processing/language processing eval. She then sent us to an OT who did a visual processing eval.

Your school district may have the resources to provide these tests as well. Both our districts SLP and audiologist did followup tests. (but understand the school will only do a minimum subtest of a complete test battery and thus you should only perceive as a screening).

Hi

Have a look at the APDUk web site, this web site has been designed to be APD friendly, by adults who have APD, and tries toi explain APD as it affects your daily life.

There a re link to information from arounf the globe including bothe the UK and the USA

There is also a Learning Style section to help understand how APDs cope with guessing the auditory information the miss.

Have a look at

http://resources.apduk.org/description_page.htm
http://apd.apduk.org/mrcihrapd.htm
http://apd.apduk.org/apdfacts.htm
http://www.apduk.org/learningstyles/powerofvt1.htm
http://www.apduk.org/learningstyles/vslteachread.htm

http://www.infolinks.apduk.org/international_page.htm
http://www.infolinks.apduk.org/audiovisual_dyselxia.htm
just a few samples from the web site.

best wishes

dolfrog

Hi Jenny-
I live in Northwest Indiana as well and I am looking for someone to test my 7 yr old son for CAPD. He has been tested at school by his SLP and has scored on the spectrum on their tests, but I am looking for a specialist to test him. Have you had any luck yet? I have a number of a neuropsych in Merrillville, and I am trying to get a hold of him. If I do not hear from him than I am going to contact an audiologist to test him that is proficient in CAPD diagnosing. If you are interested- would love to brainstorm with you since we are in the same area.
Hopeful to hear from you soon-
Amanda

I am a student and have a few questions for a class I amm doing I do have achild with learning disability but I need info from three other parents 1 How did you know to have your child tested? 2 was it diffficult having your child tested in your school?3 does your child attend their IEP meetings?4 Is the staff at your schools is to work with? 5What is your biggest concern? 6 How do you help your child fit in with their peirs? 7 Do you ever feel like you are getting the run around?