Verified answer

Hi, I'm an Audiologist

Here in the U.S., the term Dyslexia is commonly used for Visual Processing Disorders, although its actual definition is more vague.

Auditory Processing Disorder relates to how effectively and efficiently the brain is able to use auditory information, especially that which contains language.

There are many batteries of tests that help determine the specific weaknesses and strengths of the child's Central Auditory Nervous System. A comprehensive Audiological evaluation is performed first, to ensure that hearing acuity is within normal limits. After all, if the nervous system is receiving impaired information, it is already at a disadvantage for effective processing.

Other tests require the child to repeat words, numbers, sentences, or to otherwise indicate what they are hearing. Some centers also do tests that actually measure the response of the nerves as the sound travels up from the ear. Testing is long and rather dull, so many centers will break it up into 2 or more visits, so that the child's performance is not affected by fatigue.

I used to work in a center where we had an entire team of an Occupational therapist, Speech/Language Therapist, Physical Therapist, Audiologist, Psychologist, and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician. Through all the batteries of tests we were able to piece together recommendations of how to use each child's strengths to help improve their weak areas. Unfortunately, many (if not most) health care insurance plans do not cover these services, as the insurance companied consider developmental issues to be more educational than medical.

Because so many of these developmental and learning disabilities have overlapping symptoms (such as hearing loss vs. attention deficit), a multi-disciplinary evaluation is the surest way to obtain a differential diagnosis. Since you are already having the OT evaluation, I would ask their opinion of whether they suspect possible APD. I would also schedule a complete audiological evaluation, as most insurance will pay for this, and then discuss the possibility of APD with the Audiologist.

If your insurance won't pay for an APD evaluation and you are in the U.S., the school district is responsible for the evaluation. If they do not have a staff audiologist (most don't) they should provide referral and a payment voucher to an Audiologist that can perform the APD testing. Good Luck in getting your daughter the help she needs!

The answer from "Boogey.woo is very good. I'd just like to add a few comments:

Auditory processing disorder is a generic term meaning that the brain is processing information received through the ears (audio) in a problematic way. There are many varieties of auditory processing disorders, and it would be helpful to get a more specific diagnosis. You should definitely seek out speech therapy services from the public schools, but it also might be good to get a private speech therapy evaluation too.

An auditory sensory problem can also be a generic term, but it refers to the actual hearing mechanisms of sound through the sense of hearing.

To summarize the above, a sensory hearing problem is in the ears and related sensory physical mechanisms. An auditory processing disorder is how the brain makes meaning of the auditory sensory information.

There is also a condition called sensory integration disorder. That is another matter entirely, It is also a generic term, and covers such matters as sensitivity to touch, light, sound, smells, and/or tastes. It also covers matters such as balance, the sense of where one's own body is in relation to other things in the environment, etc. The people who provide therapy for these matters are called occupational therapists. Again, you should be able to get services from the public schools, but private therapies might be of better quality.

Dyslexia is another generic term meaning, "difficulty with words." There are many forms of dyslexia, and though auditory processing disorders are a major contributor to dyslexia, there are other reasons as well, and even the professional community has disagreements. What really matters is that your child get immediate, intensive, and high-qualilty intervention to help with reading. Two excellent programs are Slingerland and Lindamood-Bell, although other good programs also exist. There is a national organization called IDA, which stands for "International Dyslexia Association," and it has resources, referrals, and lots of help. I'm sure you could find them online.

Two other good websites are: schwablearning.org and ldonline.org.

There is also an organization called "Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic." They are a non-profit organization which obtains recordings of textbooks and other books, and will provide service for anyone having a documented case of dyslexia. The recordings are played on a special CD player which is about $100, and an excellent investment. You could also find out more about them online.

Good luck.

It's really great that her MD is referring your daughter to an OT, but she also would benefit from seeing a speech pathologist to address the central auditory processing disorder. They specialize in language development and disorders, including auditory processing disorders. Speech therapy will give her a jumpstart on her dyslexia, which I expect her to have because of your family history and her auditory and sensory processing problems.

You don't say how old she is, but be sure she gets special help at school, too. She can get this help (OT and ST) in addition to her private therapy. Be sure all the therapists are on the same page so they don't work at cross-purposes.

You also need to stay in close contact with her teachers and therapists so you can reinforce her learning at home by following through with their recommendations.

Good luck; I know this can be difficult for all concerned. Stay on top of it -- what you learn may help your other family members, as well.

Get your daughter in occupational therapy asap. Get as much OT for your daughter as your insurance/school system will pay for. Sensory integration therapy works wonders but it must be done early and often. See an OT for an evaluation. p.s. don't completely rule out medication. Your daughter may need medication at some point so keep an open mind. Medication is not poison and if it is given correctly by a psychiatrist, can change her life.

For sensory processing disorders, I believe you refer to an OT (occupational therapist) but for more hearing issues and/or auditory processing disorder (CAPD), you should go to a reputable audiologist who can make that diagnosis.