Super-Hearing - The Superpower You Don't Want (APD)

Super-Hearing - The Superpower You Don't Want 

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Is your child sensitive to noise?

Do they have trouble following multi-step directions?

Do they often mispronounce words?  

Do they have a hard time concentrating when there is background noise?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your kiddo might have, Auditory Processing Disorder (APD); also referred to as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).

My two daughters were recently diagnosed with APD. Up until recently, I had never even heard of it.   If it had not been for a random COVID socially distanced mom walk with a friend who has a child with APD, I would never have even thought to have my kids tested.   I am writing this blog to provide other parents with information on APD.   

What Is APD?

Caveat: I am not an audiologist, nor am I any form of a doctor.  I am just a parent who wants to provide awareness of APD.

APD is a problem with the central nervous system’s (CNS) ability to use auditory information. In layman's terms, it is a problem in the brain’s ability to filter and process sounds and words. The brain misunderstands the sounds causing the child’s brain to work harder to distinguish between similar sounds (e.g., dove-tail vs. duck-tail or nutmeg vs. cat leg).  

WAIT - The title said ‘Super-Hearing” How could an auditory disorder be linked to super-hearing?   I was confused at first, too.  It turns out kids with APD not only pass hearing tests but usually have exceptional hearing. My kiddos can often hear a whisper across the room (yes, it is hard to have a private conversation in our house).   

Another critical difficulty with APD is the timing of information from the ear to the brain.  Essentially sound going in the left and right ear is not hitting the CNS simultaneously.  Luckily this issue usually corrects itself by the time the child is sixteen. (Web MD Definition)

Some key signs your child might have APD

• Difficulty focusing in a loud environment but not in quiet ones.
• Has difficulty distinguishing background noise from voices. We see this a lot watching movies. Kids with APD usually have problems understanding what people say if more than one person is talking or background noise is present.
• Sensitivity to loud sounds and/or overwhelmed in noisy places. Many kids with APD plug their ears around loud noises saying the sound hurts. One of my kiddos does this during previews at the movies. 
• Has trouble with multiple-step verbal instructions.  Example "Turn to page 10, do problem 15-19 for the next 20 minutes. 
• Acts like they can't hear. They are asking you to repeat things 2-5 times. While this might seem counter-intuitive, asking you to repeat is not about hearing; it’s actually about sound interpretations and comprehension.
• Mis-hears or answers related questions.  Mom says, “Do you want a coat?”; kiddo hears, “Look at the boat.”  Many kids with APD context guess: Mom asks, “What would you like to eat?” Kiddo responds, “Yes, I am ready to eat.” 
• Constantly daydreaming.  Many kids with super hearing learn to tune out as a coping mechanism for living in a noisy world.  My oldest is notorious for not responding to direct questions if there is a lot of noise.  Sometimes I have to wave my hand in front of her just to get her attention. 
• Overly exhausted by the end of the day.

I Think My Kiddo Has APD - What Now?

If your child meets several of the signs above, step one is to call an Audiologist.  Remember, APD kids will pass all of the routine hearing tests with flying colors.  Only an Audiologist can diagnose APD using specialized sound equipment and tests.  

We used a non-profit called the Able Kids Foundation.  If you are not in Colorado, use this link to find an audiologist near you.  

Able Kids Foundation created a custom earpiece for my kiddos to filter out background noise and help with timing mismatches. It was amazing how much this has helped with verbal comprehension.  My girls chose brightly covered earpieces that they use as a conversation starter to tell people about APD, not with shame but pride about how they have super-hearing. 

Additionally, the Able Kids Foundation provided a report with guidance to support the kiddo at school. This influenced the creation of an individual education plan and accommodations to support the kids.

Some tips to help at home 

• Get your kiddo earmuffs to help block out the noise
• Find them a quiet environment for schoolwork and reading
• Break down instructions into small chunks (e.g., instead of “go get dressed, brush your teeth, and brush your hair.” give one instruction at a time)
• Ask the child to repeat what you have said or asked
• Give auditory breaks
• Have empathy. (Imagine for a moment hearing a sound across a room at the same volume as the person sitting across you. It makes me exhausted, just thinking about it.)

Just knowing that my kids have APD made a vast difference in my and their teacher’s patience with each kid’s coping mechanisms.  

My youngest’s coping mechanisms were similar to that of a kid diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); wiggling, turning away, talking on top of me, and humming. These are her cues that she needs an auditory break.  It turns out her need to talk incessently was her way to control the conversation.  If she is talking, you can’t speak, and she cannot misunderstand you.  

On the other hand, my oldest gave me a “tween” attitude. My patience with the response of a snarky “WHAT” from her after the 3rd time I repeat myself has increased since the APD diagnosis.  I now try to imagine someone standing next to me talking, knowing I should comprehend what they asked, but I can’t.  So I ask them to repeat it once, twice, and then a third time.  I imagine feeling not only frustrated but embarrassed by this. At this point, my “what” has turned to a snarky “WHAT,” implying it is their fault I can’t understand them. Then my brain guesses they are saying, “Are you ready to eat?”  I answer, yes.  But they asked, “What do you want to eat?”  The result is frustration, confusion, and exhaustion for everyone involved. 

Closing Thoughts

It is important to note that many APD symptoms can look like other learning problems, such as ADHD.  That is not to say a kid cannot have both APD and ADHD or another learning disorder.  In fact, my kids have both Dyslexia and APD.  But APD coping mechanisms can look very similar to other learning disorders, so it is worth looking into if your kiddo exhibits the signs listed above. Additionally, several studies show a strong link with kids who have ADHD having APD. 

On another note, APD is genetic. If one of your kids has it, it might be worthwhile to have your other kids tested as well.  That also means you and/or your partner has APD too. While you grow out of the timing issues as an adult, the super-hearing persists into adulthood. Using some of the tips above can help adults also.  We did not get tested ourselves (and don’t tell my husband this), but I have been using some of the techniques they suggested with him.  Asking him to repeat what I asked has cut down misunderstandings in our household significantly. 

The real key for me was finding out my kids had APD so I could get them the accommodations at home and in school to thrive.  Additionally, the exhaustion level and emotional tax this was putting on them were leading to behavior issues.  This impacted their overall emotional wellbeing.  Getting them diagnosed changed their trajectory and improved our relationship as a family and their relationship with others.