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 tamariki (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 tamariki.
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 tamaiti (child) to see a paediatric audiologist at the hospital.
You can also 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 tamariki, so make sure you ask if they do.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2024.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
American Journal of Occupational Therapy – Concept evolution in sensory integration: a proposed nosology for diagnosis (http://www.autismuptinc.com/Miller_Anzalone%20new%20criteria%20for%20sid.pdf), retrieved January 2017.
Autism New Zealand, retrieved January 2017.
Dyspraxia Support Group, retrieved January 2017.
KidsHealth – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), retrieved January 2017.
KidsHealth – Developmental disability (https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/developmental-disability), retrieved January 2017.
Ministry of Education – I think my child has some special education needs - where do I begin? (https://parents.education.govt.nz/learning-support/learning-support-needs/i-think-my-child-has-some-learning-support-needs-where-do-i-begin/), retrieved July 2017.
Ministry of Health – A guide to the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 (https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/idccrguidelines-intellectualdisability.pdf), retrieved January 2017.
NHS – Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children, retrieved January 2017.
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne – Developmental delay: an information guide for parents (https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/cdr/Dev_Delay.pdf), retrieved January 2017.
Speld NZ, retrieved January 2017.
Star Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder – Identification of SPD (https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/identification-of-spd), retrieved July 2017.
Sydney Children's Hospital Network – Developmental delay and intellectual disability (https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/find-a-service/health-medical-services/developmental-delay-and-intellectual-disability), retrieved January 2017.
Image and embedded video sources
Image of a boy with headphones near window from Shutterstock (image ID 219436822). March 2016.
Image of a boy with white headphones from Shutterstock (image ID 410367724). August 2021.
Image of a child throwing a ball from Shutterstock (image ID 84010918). August 2021.
Image of a child with their hands over their ears from Shutterstock (image ID 286998617). August 2021.
Image of a child working on a puzzle from Shutterstock (image ID 285121967). August 2021.
Image of a parent walking with a child from Shutterstock (image ID 472077484). August 2021.
Image of a teacher helping a child from Shutterstock (image ID 566559844). August 2021.
Image of children working on computers from Shutterstock (image ID 118599142). August 2021.
Page reference: 152816
Review key: HICDG-40335
