Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder

An audiologist discusses auditory processing disorder. She describes the symptoms, the evaluation and the treatment.
In another video on the Utah Neuro Rehabilitation channel, she discusses how to improve auditory processing difficulties. Go to: Strategies to Help Auditory Processing Disorder

[kyratompsett]

I love how clearly you both enunciate. I wish more people would do that. I've been told that my hearing is normal, but I tell people all the time that if they don't have my attention or I can't see them, I cannot understand what they're saying. All I hear is gibberish. Sometimes I can take a second and replay the noise and kind of take a guess at what was said. It can also be very amusing when I get it wrong. (You'd be amazed at how many things sound like "I love you") It's just rough because I grew up with a semi deaf dad, so I'm used to talking to someone who actually can't hear me well at all. But my husband isn't, and gets so frustrated when I have to ask him to repeat himself. The worst thing people do is just saying "nevermind"

[SuperMonaLisaBros]

"Weren't you listening?!" I heard that way too much in Elementary school. Getting punished for shit that you can't help blows.

[lancewestveer]

This makes lots of sense. I used to work in a place where hearing protection was required and we were tested for hearing loss every year. I always passed with 95% in both ears. But during conversations with people, sometimes their words would turn into mush halfway through a sentence and I'd have to ask them to repeat themselves. I'd try to repeat the noise that came out of their mouth as close as I could. Normally not much of a problem except if you ever get pulled over by the police and they think you're mocking them.

[matthewtheobald]

I was diagnosed with APD as a young child and struggled with it a lot through school. It was really hard for me to read and write and still today my spelling is really bad. I'm horrible at following directions and I forget things all the time, even if someone just told me. It's really hard for me to learn people's names and other bits of info like dates. I space out a lot and have a short attention span even when I'm trying really hard to listen or even when I'm very interested in what I'm hearing. It helps a lot though seeing videos like this that validate my struggles. I feel like APD is a very unknown condition that's not talked about often. I didn't receive a lot of help through school, but I feel like if more people know about APD then kids in the future will have an easier time and be more accommodated for.

[evacavaille-coll]

So grateful for YouTube auto generated subtitles so I know what these ladies are talking about.

[jaymaines]

I’m 20 years old and just now learning about ADP. I had a ton of ear infections as a kid so that could be why. I also deal with social anxiety and ADHD, I have a hard time understanding what anybody talks about and my anxiety Keeps me from asking people to repeat themselves. Thank you for this video!

[thesilentangrycat]

I have it with my autism! Sometimes when I'm done with the conversation I forget most of what they said or what they just said in class

[robynwaugh]

Ive never been diagnosed, but I’ve always struggled with hearing people, especially when there’s background noise. It’s like I can hear that someone is saying something but it just sounds like noise. It gets a little better if I focus but I still miss a ton of words when there’s other noise of any sort going on.

[annapurnanai]

As someone with APD this is so validating to hear, and know that others experience this and that Its not my fault or that I am the cause

[pbugo]

I'm doing pretty well in college. When it comes to studying, I know what works best for me & what doesn't work for me. My biggest struggle is that I have a hard time following detailed instructions/directions. I always make sure to read the material ahead of time, bring a recorder (if allowed, of course) & a notepad. It works for me. If I'm put on the spot without any preparation, I freeze.

[Ni-boo]

Hah got perfect hearing as long as its only one sound 👌

[neekaphillipstaliesintoo]

Thanks for this. I'm an adult who was always told I just have selective deafness. Or I just choose what I want to listen to. I've had heaps of hearing tests and my hearing is fine, but especially now in this pandemic, with face masks being worn it's heightened how much of a problem it is for me. This helped me explain to my husband and to my friends what I hear, because it's quite similar. Even down to say, watching a YouTube video. If my device is the only noise source it's fine. But if my husband sits near me doing the same thing, he scrambles the noise on my device. So thanks for this. You've made it a bit easier for me to get people to understand.

[ilizhof]

my big clue into this disorder was the forgetfulness of sequences, directions, letters, numbers, etc. i would be at work and couldn’t remember a simple 2-3 step instruction without having someone re-explain or me repeating the instructions back minutes later. i also turn down music, the tv, any background noise for those talking to me and try to give them my best possible attention. i’m 30 and have just stumbled upon this disorder within the last 3-4 years, but it makes total sense for me! i’ve actually talked to my mom about my childhood behavior and she said that i needed more repeating before something would sink in for me. thank you for explaining this a little more in-depth and i hope more come to understand this!

[prcilermc]

they are so awesome for purposefully speaking slowly and clearly for those with this kind of problem

[jennaprice]

Dr. Gooch, you were my auditory therapist back in 1993 after I was in a bike accident. Fun to see you online now!

This was a really interesting video!
It's a real struggle when people say I need to 'pay attention'. Paying attention isn't the issue. It's that I cannot listen, then give my brain adequate time to understand, and then take meaningful notes... especially while someone is still talking in the background. In college I survived by reading my textbooks (I understand perfectly when I read) and then listening to the lecture.

I've developed my own coping mechanisms - ask frequent (annoying) questions so I make sure I am keeping up with the discussion. Ask A or B type questions to make sure I understand what was said - 'Did you mean A or B?' It is always a struggle to determine the meaning behind what a person says. I'm the best texting/emailing buddy a person could ever have. 😆

At work I am frequently scheduling meetings to discuss a previous meeting. It seems to help my entire team, but they don't know why I do it.

Also, my questioning tends to make people feel deeply heard. 'Wow, no one has ever cared So Much about what I have to say' is something I hear often. 🤣 It is easy to enthral people who have never felt 'heard' or 'seen' in life. I just annoy everyone else, especially those in a crisis who want to be understood without all the damn questions.

Anywho. Keep doing the good work!

[bethcart]

Is anyone else here because of not being able to read lips with masks? I went to an audiologist assuming I had some hearing loss over the years and the doctor said my ears were fine. She told me a lot of adults find this out later then she literally just told me to google it- no referral. It makes so much sense, I was diagnosed with adhd but have been off meds for years and always questioned the diagnosis. I also had horrendous ear infections as a kid. One thing I never understood- I'll type a rhyming word instead of the word I'm meaning but again, this all makes a lot of sense

[Therealfrostflower]

ive struggled with apd (diagnosed) as long as i can remember, thanks for educating!

[MoistCrumpet]

I’m 24 and I have only just recently been properly diagnosed with this. I also have some visual processing difficulties, but my auditory processing difficulties are much more prominent. As a child my mum thought I needed grommets in my ears, but every time the specialist would say there was nothing wrong with my hearing. It’s only now that I’m having a psychiatrist try to improve that and my poor memory for me.

[juliannarogers]

I have APD, and am so grateful that you all did this video about it.

[slinkywhippet]

I'm 44 and only got diagnosed with APD in my late 30s. I was told by several specialists when I was a kid that I "just wasn't paying attention enough" and for most of my life I've had to have to use context, lip reading & educated guesses to have a conversation. Maybe it wasn't a well known diagnosis in the 80s/90s?. I'm so glad I mentioned it to my GP a few years ago & saw a consultant who told me my hearing is actually better than it should be given my age but that my brain simply wasn't processing the sounds. Honestly it validated my experience & made me understand that it wasn't my fault. I saw a wonderful speech & auditory therapist who helped me with coping strategies which have made my life a little easier.
Thanks for the video ❤