What is central auditory processing disorder?

Parents and teachers often first notice the symptoms of CAPD in school. Symptoms include:

• Having trouble understanding discussions in a noisy classroom.
• Struggling with spelling and reading aloud.
• Asking often for parents and teachers to repeat what they've said.

Treatment is planned specially for your child. It may include training in listening skills. Your child may wear a device that makes speech louder while reducing background noise. They may also work with a speech therapist.

CAPD is diagnosed by an audiologist through a series of tests. The audiologist and your child's doctor will make sure that the symptoms are not being caused by another condition. An audiologist is a health professional who measures hearing loss. They will:

• Test for any actual loss of hearing.
• Test your child to see how well they can tell sounds apart.
• Ask you and your child's teachers about your child's listening behavior.

Testing usually starts when the child is at least 7 or 8 years old. The audiologist takes into account your child's age, language development, and cultural background when doing the tests.

You can help support your child's treatment. Try reducing background noise whenever you can. Teach your child to watch the person who is speaking. Your child's teacher can help by placing your child at the front of the classroom. This helps them focus.

Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is a condition in which the ears and the brain do not work well together. People with it have trouble telling the difference between similar sounds in words. They may also struggle with making sense of what's said to them and knowing where a sound is coming from.