Auditory Processing Disorder Clinic

The Masters Family Speech and Hearing Center evaluates children for (central) auditory processing disorders. Children with (C)APD have difficulty responding to and understanding speech in a number of situations. They are not having difficulty hearing sound, but have a hard time understanding what the sound means. (C)APD is thought to be a problem with how the brain perceives and interprets sound, not how ears hear sound.

After sound passes though the ear and reaches the brain, the brain must be able to do these things:

• Identify from which direction the sound comes (sound localization).
• Recognize whether two sounds are the same or different.
• Determine what sounds are high and low pitched.
• Recognize breaks between sounds in words and words in sentences (temporal aspects of audition).
• Easily understand speech through background noise or if the speech is muffled.

Children often are referred for (C)APD testing because they have a hard time with one or more of the following:

• Listening in noisy situations.
• Following simple and complex spoken directions.
• Paying attention.
• Mixing up sounds in words.
• Remembering what was said.
• Learning.

(C)APD can occur along with other disorders such as speech-language impairments, reading and learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder. Diagnosing (C)APD is hard because behaviors may be similar to the other disorders. That is why a team approach is needed.

Our team
Our team is made up of an audiologist, speech-language pathologist and psychologist. Each professional helps determine where the problem occurs along the path of sound traveling from the ear to the brain. Each has a different role, although not every child will need to see each professional listed below.

Audiologists:

• Test for hearing loss.
• Test to see if both ears are working together to process sounds.
• Test how the brain interprets sound when the sound is distorted, such as when background noise is present.

Speech-language pathologists determine whether the child can:

• Make speech sounds.
• Understand and use vocabulary.
• Understand and use sentences and grammar.
• Remember what has been said.
• Put sentences together to express thoughts and ideas (speaking and writing).

Psychologists review the child's:

• Intelligence.
• Attention.
• Behavior.
• Memory.

What happens at a visit?
You will be sent a form to fill out of background information, including school information and results from other evaluations. When the information is received by our team, they will review it and recommend which professionals your child should see. Someone will call you to schedule the appointment, which usually lasts at least two hours.

After the appointment, the team will meet again to discuss results and make recommendations. You will receive copies of written reports from each professional.

Appointments
To make an appointment, contact the Masters Family Speech and Hearing Center at (414) 266-2934 and ask for an APD evaluation.

Location
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee