Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Central Auditory Processing Disorder – What is it?
Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a deficiency in the mental interpretation of auditory signals. Simply, if the ears and brain aren’t fully coordinated in the processing of information, then a “disorder” or “dysfunction” exists.

Learning requires us to collect auditory information through our sense of hearing and then process that information in a way that means something. Proper auditory processing means that the brain comprehends the sounds reaching the ear. A child may test “normal” on a hearing assessment, but have tremendous difficulty processing sounds in a meaningful way. CAPD means that something in the central nervous system is affecting the conversion of sound waves into the neural-electrical pulses processed by the brain. Of course, if something is blocking the brain’s ability to properly process sounds, learning difficulties are likely to surface.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder – The Causes and Symptoms
The causes of Central Auditory Processing Disorder are often unknown, or even controversial. They may include head trauma, tumors, degenerative disorders, childhood viruses, recurring ear infections, oxygen deprivation, lead poisoning, brain development issues, or none-of-the-above. In children, Central Auditory Processing Disorder may manifest itself alongside other difficulties, such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder.

The symptoms of Central Auditory Processing Disorder are diverse and often masked by other behaviors. People with CAPD may be easily distracted, disorganized, or excessively upset by noise. They may have difficulty following verbal instructions or multi-step directions. They may wander during conversations or have problems developing a vocabulary. In general, reading, spelling, language, and comprehension are a tremendous struggle.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder – The Cognitive Approach
People with Central Auditory Processing Disorder can truly excel in life -- it’s a matter of training the brain to better process the sounds that define our world. Auditory processing is a cognitive skill necessary for learning -- it’s been defined as "what we do with what we hear" (Katz, Stecker & Henderson, 1992).

At LearningRx, we’ve developed a cognitive skills training program that confronts and corrects the auditory processing elements necessary for reading, spelling, and other “sound-to-code” mental models. We don’t use a program of rules and lessons. Rather, we start at the cognitive level and focus on the following:

    Sound Analysis – The ability to correctly discern the component sounds of words.

    Sound Blending – The ability to combine sounds accurately in the formation of words.

    Sound Segmenting – The ability to hear and separate the individual sounds that have been combined to create words.
Once we’ve identified someone’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses, we work to enhance, stretch, and load those skills to produce a stronger mental base for a lifetime of learning. LearningRx treats reading like athletics -- we focus on training and practice, rather than lessons and lectures.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder – LearningRx Can Help!
If you or your child show signs of Central Auditory Processing Disorder, it’s important to get properly tested and start the process of cognitive skills training as soon as possible. At LearningRx, we’ve seen phenomenal results in a matter of weeks. If it sounds too good to be true, we encourage you to read what others are saying about their experiences.

To learn more about Central Auditory Processing Disorder and related cognitive skills issues, please use our LearningRx Locator to find a testing and training center near you.

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