Other Auditory Processing Disorder

[theshadowoftheliving]

Just wondering if anyone has any insight into this. Just stumbled on it, and its crazy how much reading the symptoms describes me entire world experience.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Signs and Symptoms

Essentially, I struggle to process auditory information. If there is a conversation in the hallway and one with the person in front of me, I can intellectually try to focus on the person in front of me, but there is a good chance my brain will either tune into the hallway conversation or just mix the two up into a garbled mess. I just - struggle. But I now my hearing is fine, and I know that my intelligence is fine, and I've found ways to cope over the years like not-taking and reading and asking people to send me information in emails instead of telling me verbally.

It actually occurred to me today that maybe part of why I am struggling to engage in therapy is because it is so auditory. I don't know, I don't know what to do with that, or what to think about it.

So, no real question - just looking for conversation. Looking for information, if you have it, because I really want to understand this.

 

[mamachick]

I am quite familiar with Auditory Processing Disorder as my daughter was diagnosed with this in her teens. However, I can not tell you how much people vary with this disorder or how symptoms vary. I took her to a therapist for testing beginning in 1st grade, again in 4th and again in 7th. Each time they told me they could not rule out ADHD but suggested nothing else and did not recomend therapy. Finally in 10th grade we tried Adderoll for ADHD after further inconclusive testing. (she fit criteria of ADHD) Thats when I insisted they refer to psychiatrist. Her behavior mimicked Asbergers Syndrome in many ways but just not quite. ( I was a therapist and qualified but unfamiliar with this) The psych dr agreed with my evaluation but agreed it wasn't Asbergers. Sent her to children hospital to speech dept and she was diagnosed. I can't tell you how much pain and frustration it would have saved her had she been diagnosed early on.

She was very bright. Tested in 99 percentile in math in standardized testing. She could not complete work on time. Often distracted. She had difficulty with a few instructions at same time..... EX:put this in bathroom, get your jacket, turn off lights and we will leave.
By middle school, she got detention for being late to class because she was standing in line for the wrong class room. She always had a best friend but did not do well in groups. She wanted to be part of groups. (in hindsight-its harder to keep up with multiple conversations going on) She lacked social skills (age appropriate) in making plans to do things with friends. Often she took things literally and may have missed that something was just a joke. She hyper focused on certain things, such as art and a musical instrument. It took her an inordinate amount of time to do homework by high school and needed a special plan.

If while in home room, they announced over the intercom for the following students to report too????, and at the same time, the teacher gave an instruction, she was so distracted that she received neither message....it was babble. And we did not know this until she was almost 17. When caught early, the child gets an ear piece and teacher gets a collar mic and other accommodations are made. It is often under diagnosed.

 

[mamachick]

One symptom that looked so much like Asbergers was reciprocity. If someone asked how she was, she would say "fine" but never said "how are you". She just never got the reciprocating thing....but not sure that that is part of this or individual to her.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

@brat17 Thank you for sharing. I don't struggle quite like that, but for sure I've learned to employ lots of compensatory behaviors when it comes to keeping track of auditory information. Excessive note-taking, etc.

I don't know if I have this, and it really doesn't matter since there is no treatment per-say other than therapy to increase coping skills, which I feel like I've already done on my own out of necessity. I guess I was just thinking of this as maybe an unexamined reason why the typical therapy format is so hard for me - and maybe as a way to rethink that experience to be more useful?

 

[mamachick]

It doesn't sound like you do but idk. Its great that you have learned to compensate too. Im a bit ADD and learned to compensate by really good organization. I think we all have a little bit of something we need to learn to compensate for.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Just wondering if anyone has any insight into this. Just stumbled on it, and its crazy how much reading the symptoms describes me entire world experience.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Signs and Symptoms

Essentially, I struggle to process auditory information. If there is a conversation in the hallway and one with the person in front of me, I can intellectually try to focus on the person in front of me, but there is a good chance my brain will either tune into the hallway conversation or just mix the two up into a garbled mess. I just - struggle. But I now my hearing is fine, and I know that my intelligence is fine, and I've found ways to cope over the years like not-taking and reading and asking people to send me information in emails instead of telling me verbally.

It actually occurred to me today that maybe part of why I am struggling to engage in therapy is because it is so auditory. I don't know, I don't know what to do with that, or what to think about it.

So, no real question - just looking for conversation. Looking for information, if you have it, because I really want to understand this.

That happens to me when a part of me doesn’t want to hear something. Sometimes the volume seems too low to hear, sometimes words are jumbled, and sometimes sounds are jumbled, too.

This can happen w reading too if there is too much stress- I can read the words but together they are a jumbled mess and text makes little sense- or I can’t recall it. If a part doesn’t want to deal w it- My comprehension is awful. When I’m doing well- auditory and visual work fine.

This is apparently not uncommon w people w trauma/ptsd. If I’m in a phase where reading is a challenge- I can listen to audiobooks better.

 

[HealingInProcess]

That happens to me when a part of me doesn’t want to hear something. Sometimes the volume seems too low to hear, sometimes words are jumbled, and sometimes sounds are jumbled, too.

This can happen w reading too if there is too much stress- I can read the words but together they are a jumbled mess and text makes little sense- or I can’t recall it. If a part doesn’t want to deal w it- My comprehension is awful. When I’m doing well- auditory and visual work fine.

This is apparently not uncommon w people w trauma/ptsd. If I’m in a phase where reading is a challenge- I can listen to audiobooks better.

I think I experience this as well.

 

[PointlessExistence]

I have a mild form of this. For instance, if someone verbally spells a word or name, I'm lost. Whenever a radio DJ gives a weather snippet, I'm lost. He's talking about breezy, cool, blah-blah-blah, and I can't keep track. And although I can speak and read Spanish pretty well, I am terrible at understanding spoken Spanish. I hear all the words but they become jumbled, and I'm lost. If I had a dime for every time someone tried to explain that away by telling me "Spanish people talk faster", I'd be a millionaire. The fact is I have CAPD.

 

[Reflections]

I have APD, was diagnosed in the 3rd grade. It's mild enough I can get away without telling others I have it and just adapt to help myself (asking clarifying questions, written conversation, bluffing, lip reading, room auccustics). I have found though telling others helps a lot. People are generally compassionate and will adjust and accomdate.

I record my therapy sessions. Between my dissociation and APD I miss hear or forget a lot. I'll ask my therapist to repeat but if I don't get the first or second time I can re-listen to it when it's quiet and calm and I can actually absorb it.

I've heard claims that neuro feedback therapy can improve/cure APD but I haven't tried it myself.

I recommend just reading the info out there to understand APD more.

 

[mamachick]

@Reflections -I am so glad to hear that you got diagnosed in 3rd grade. Knowledge is success. My daughter is now 29 and still has poor communication. She never learned to compensate and telling her this at 17 yrs old was not welcome. She insisted she didn't have a disability. Well at that age, everyone just wants to be normal and fit in. As much as I tried to explain, the more she denied it. She was eligible for college tuition through voc rehab but they had restrictions, such as she could be a high school teacher but not elementary because she didn't get social cues that kids need from their teachers when young. Instead, she took out loans and took classes her bf recommended and she dropped out. I have a real passion about getting a diagnosis early, it really means the world. Sounds like you have done awesome.

 

[Lionheart]

I have many of the symptoms of this disorder, especially not being able to single out sounds when there is any background noise. I am pretty sure I have this disorder, but I don't think I was ever officially diagnosed. The last time I went for a hearing test they said that there was a problem with my hearing but nothing they could help me with.

I don't take verbal instruction from others very well...I cannot follow the information unless it is written down for me. I need people to talk slower for me a lot of the time or I can't understand what they are saying etc. I am getting older and the symptoms seem to be worsening. Thanks for posting this thread, the link is very informative and I don't feel so "crazy" anymore.

 

[HealingInProcess]

That happens to me when a part of me doesn’t want to hear something. Sometimes the volume seems too low to hear, sometimes words are jumbled, and sometimes sounds are jumbled, too.

This can happen w reading too if there is too much stress- I can read the words but together they are a jumbled mess and text makes little sense- or I can’t recall it. If a part doesn’t want to deal w it- My comprehension is awful. When I’m doing well- auditory and visual work fine.

This is apparently not uncommon w people w trauma/ptsd. If I’m in a phase where reading is a challenge- I can listen to audiobooks better.

This is a good idea to change between the two.