HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Auditory processing disorder
Pānga whakarongo
Sometimes a person's hearing may be normal but sounds are mixed up when they reach the brain. This is called an auditory processing disorder (APD). You can also think of it as a listening difficulty.
APD is most common in children, but it can also develop in adults as a result of a head injury, stroke, or other condition that affects the brain.
Auditory processing disorder can make it hard to:
- understand speech especially if there are other noises or voices
- hear the difference between some sounds such as shoulder and soldier or cold and called
- concentrate when there is background noise.
This can lead to learning difficulties for children.
An audiologist can diagnose auditory processing disorder using specialised hearing tests.
There are a range of treatment options to help manage the condition.
Your doctor can refer your child to see a paediatric audiologist at Christchurch Hospital.
Alternatively, you can pay to see a private audiologist. You can search for one on the New Zealand Audiological Society website or Healthpoint. Not all private audiologists see children, so make sure you ask if they do.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- NHS – Auditory processing disorder
What is APD, who gets it, how is it diagnosed, and how can you manage it?
- University of Canterbury Children's Auditory Processing Clinic – APD
This leaflet explains what auditory processing disorder is, how to tell if a child might have it, and what help is available through this clinic. There is a charge for University of Canterbury clinics.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2021.
Review key: HICDG-40335
