Living with an Auditory Processing Disorder

My daily experience in having APD.

I was diagnosed at 16 when I started to notice more and more that I was struggling to hear in class and in social settings. There are great resources out there that talk about the symptoms and tells of APD, but I believe there is a severe lack of real people telling there stories and being advocates for raising awareness and supporting others.

I want to be that person.

Have a topic you want me to discuss? Shoot me a message :)

Valuable resources:

FIND ME:
Insta:
@meg_scha
@megkaphotos

YT:
Room 15
What If? (podcast)

A sincere thank you for taking the time to learn more about APD.

[MsLhuntMartinez]

People get so frustrated when i say 'huh' or 'what'. I'm pretty sure I was overlooked for a job because of it. Of all things it was a phone interview. I lied and said my cell was breaking up so that she could repeat herself. SMH And I kept forgetting what question she asked me while trying to answer the question! After my first sentence I would go blank. My brain is awesome.

[madcasekc]

I have been struggling with APD for years and no one ever understands. I’m glad I’m not alone. Thank you for your video.

[walkingtourist]

I also have APD and this is exactly how I hear things. It's really loud because my hearing is better than normal, as well as being very jumbled. People tend to get annoyed if you misinterpret all of their jumbled sounds.

[BleedingxKunai]

Best way I can explain APD is that my brain is constantly playing a game of Telephone. I hear one thing, but by the time it gets processed, it's completely different

[Winter-Wolfi]

School with APD is a PAIN.

1) Talking during writing/reading tasks
I'm unable to read the excercise text or construct sentences with strong audio interference.

2) Random missed/incorrectly heard information
Teacher dictating me sentences and, worst of all, numbers is a confusion ready to happen.

3) Social interaction in a loud environment
I've already given up on joining conversations in the canteen or busy hall.

[RosesTeaAndASD]

I nearly cried OUT OF JOY because you described it exactly as I feel and how life is.
I'm 37 now and I've always felt so alone.
I have autism and ADHD too which makes things even more chaotic, but at least I don't feel so bad when I struggle now.
Thank you❤️

[exceptionalteachingsolutio]

Wow! Powerful video and excellent description of APD! I know many teachers that would benefit from viewing this! Thank you for being brave enough and creative enough to share this important message!

[subikolife]

I am 48 years old. I recently diagnosed APD. Thank you so much for making this video. I need to accepted this and move forward with all of you. I am happy I am not alone.

[ev]

Thank you for your bravery posting this video and telling your story, by the end, my eyes were watering. I am 48 years old and just finding out there is a name to this problem. I dropped out of college because I didn't know what to do and my parents always told me "there's nothing wrong with you, it's all in your head". I am now struggling how to deal with it as there is more information to deal with APD in children than there is for adults.

[genericbrand]

I have autism, and processing auditory stimulus can be really hard for me to do. I relate to what you’ve said a lot.

[emilybean]

As someone who has APD, Autism, and dsylexia, thank u for making this video. I work in retail. And I have some customers who get mad at me if I dont understand them.

[kureru]

This is so relatable it's unsettling 😱 all thesz times I completely misunderstood people and responded inappropriately, I figured I was either partly deaf (but I didn't think so) or just plain stupid. I should get checked for APD, thanks for sharing your story!

[barbaraalbert]

Thank you so much for making this video, "..dyslexia for your ears.." absolutely know what you're talking about. In my 50s, undiagnosed.. have been an Advocate with Disabled People. Have always been an observer. Saw an audiologist. Where I learned, "we hear with our brain". Dr refused to discuss APD. I was handed hearing aids, told, "I'm missing pitches(some), and have Tinnitus", going to keep learning. Thank you again for this video.

[charliekarsh]

!!!! That was me!!! I had chronic ear infections, profoundly deaf till I was three. I had no idea other people experienced this. I'm so happy I'm not just dumb, honestly.

[SherityK]

Thank you for putting into words… what we here. I have brain damage due to ischemic cerebral strokes and this is what I have been dealing with. This is new for me and trying to have people understand what I am understanding is difficult. You nailed it on the head! Hearts❤
Thank you.

[johnnygunzfilmbuff]

I have and struggle with ADP to. It's a struggle and a challenge to live with everyday of my life.

[honestlythetruth]

I have just learned about APD, I'm 25 and THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY HOLE LIFE!! the way That you did the jumbled up voice!! THATS EXACTLY WHAT I HEAR! OMG thank you so much for all your work editing and making this video!!

[Cookieandcreame]

thanks so much for this. i’ve vaguely known since i was young that i’ve had this but now that i’m working in a fast-paced environment, it’s becoming really apparent. i actually felt so validated when you said that it was like dyslexia but with listening—finally a way to explain it!

[gyzepeda]

Thank you for sharing this was a perfect explanation for living with APD. It’s so difficult to live this way and explaining harder but I hope people can begin to understand.

[arielnecessary]

I think I have APD. Your video described exactly what I experience when people talk to me. It's so embarrassing. I avoid social interactions because of it. I only just recently heard of APD. I always thought I was a weirdo with how my ears garbled things. It's good to know I'm not alone and that this is a real condition. It explains so much.