Children and adults with an auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central auditory processing disorders (CAPD),experience difficulties understanding what is said to them in spite of normal hearing. Most of the problems stem from the brain having difficulty processing verbal messages and/or the ears being unable to tune out competing background. 

There is no way to really know what causes APD. It sometimes runs in families. APD can be acquired from ear infections, a difficult birth, head injury or severe illness. Dr. Alfred Tomatis, pioneer of sound-based auditory training, hypothesized that the ears can also psychologically protect a person by tuning out during traumatic events such as the death of a family member or abuse.

An auditory processing disorder has many repercussions. APD can cause infants and toddlers to have delayed speech and language development. School-aged children commonly have reading difficulties, language disorders, attention problems and other disabilities. Adults with APD notice that they frequently misunderstand conversations, ask others to repeat what was said, hear poorly in a noisey environment and have difficulty expressing their thoughts.

At Brain Works, we use auditory training methods based on the work of Dr. Tomatis. Whether a client gets training at Brain Works or uses a home program, they typically have great success. Pre- and post- standardized tests usually show significant increases in auditory processing and attention span. Parents and teachers notice improvements in listening ability, attention, reading, language skills, auditory memory and grades.

Deborah Ross-Swain Ed.D., CCC Speech-Language Pathologist, conducted a study using the Tomatis Method for Auditory Processing Disorders (APD). 41 subjects ages 4.3 to 19.8 years old were evaluated for A.P.D. All subjects demonstrated significant improvement in immediate auditory memory, auditory sequencing, interpretation of directions, auditory discrimination and auditory cohesion. The average improvement of overall auditory processing skills was 49.93%.

Problems with auditory processing can go undiagnosed for years. Children and adults can be thought to have an attention deficit disorder, learning disability or below normal intelligence, when their real problem is the inability to clearly understand verbal messages. The frustration felt by suffers of APD need not continue. Auditory training based on Tomatis principles can be of tremendous help on the road to recovery.