Central Auditory Processing Difficulties
Central auditory processing can best be thought of as what we do with what we hear. The speech sounds we hear are decoded and then meaning is given to the sounds. Once this is completed, we store the information in a sequenced and organized way. Central auditory processing also includes memory of what we hear, and our ability to tolerate the noise around us. It also involves how noise impacts our ability to pay attention to the incoming speech sounds. Some people have difficulty with one or more of these auditory processing abilities. This can result in difficulty with memory, learning, and often results in reading and writing difficulties in children. It can occur along with other disorders such as attention deficit disorder or on its own, and is often seen in children with a history of chronic ear infections.
At The Speech Clinic, our SLPs can help figure out if a Central Auditory Processing Disorder exists by providing a screening test for CAP disorders. Suggestions can then be made for further testing with an Audiologist, Psychologist and/or further testing by the SLP to determine exactly how it affects you or your child. Our SLPs can also offer some direct therapy to improve auditory processing skills and strategies to compensate for the deficits.