A listening loss is an auditory processing disorder (APD). For young children, APD can impair the ability to attend in class, follow instructions and learn and it contributes to academic problems.
Auditory processing is the auditory focusing mechanism of the brain. For an adult, APD can make it nearly impossible to keep up with conversational speech, foreign accents, fast speech, or hear in background noise environments, even with the best hearing aid. Focus problems impact the ability to use sounds you hear. Without good focusing, everything becomes gibberish or noise.
APD has many causes including neurological, maturational, pharmacological and auditory deprivation. Those who need hearing aids but won’t wear them may be causing APD by inducing auditory deprivation to the brain. The latest research indicates use it or lose it. By using hearing aids, you will stop further deterioration caused by auditory deprivation.
How do you know if you have APD? Have an APD assessment by an audiologist who specializes in APD. APD is not measured by a standard hearing test. APD late in life can lead to significant dissatisfaction with hearing aids. One clue that APD may be involved is a drawer full of hearing aids.
What can you do about APD? First, eliminate auditory deprivation if that is an issue. Use appropriate hearing aids regularly. Second, get help retraining the brain to the listen. For children, listening therapies are offered by speech pathologists that specialize in APD. For adults, a new listening training program available on CD called LACE will help. It was developed by Neurotone and the University of San Francisco. In four weeks adults can significantly sharpen their ability to listen up to 30 percent. LACE will not eliminate APD, but will reduce it. For adults wanting help with LACE or who don’t have a computer, our LACE Learning Lab is available, with people to help you. Think of LACE as physical therapy for the ears.
Randall Bartlett and Cydney Fox may be reached at 661-259-1880. Visit their website at www.hearwell.net or contact them at hearasn@msn.com