“Can you hear me now?”
We have all experienced the frustration of poor cell reception. It doesn’t take much time trying to piece broken syllables before you hang up until you can find a better signal.
Challenges with auditory processing skills can feel like talking on the phone with poor reception. You may get bits and pieces of what is said. You may be able to piece it together to understand, but it is frustrating and fatiguing.
Auditory processing skills are a set of underlying neurological processes that allow individuals to interpret sounds.
Auditory processing is different from hearing acuity. Hearing acuity is what happens in your ears; it is receiving the message. Auditory processing happens in your brain; it is how you perceive the message.
Auditory processing skills include:
Auditory awareness – the ability to detect sounds
Sound localization – the ability to locate the source of a sound
Auditory attention – the ability to attend to specific sounds in the midst of other sounds
Auditory discrimination – detecting the difference in sounds
Auditory identification – the ability to attach meaning to sounds and speech
Auditory feedback – the ability to change speech production based on environmental feedback
Phonemic awareness – the ability to identify, blend, segment, and manipulate the sounds in language
Auditory memory – the ability to retain and recall auditory information
Weaknesses in auditory processing skills can lead to challenges following directions, reading & spelling, paying attention, communicating, and more. Auditory processing deficits are common in individuals with ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Deficits in auditory processing may lead to a diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), which impacts 5% of students.
Hearing acuity is tested in routine check-ups with your doctor and/or during a hearing screening at school, but auditory processing skills are rarely assessed. A skill evaluation with NeuroAide includes screening for auditory processing challenges. An audiologist is required for comprehensive testing of auditory processing skills and/or diagnosis of APD.
Auditory processing can improve through targeted training and specific cognitive exercises. Strengthening these skills can lead to a vast range of benefits from more energy throughout the day to greater self-confidence.
Interested in strengthening your auditory processing skills? Set up your FREE consultation with NeuroAide to find the right training for you.
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