When you can hear… but still struggle to understand.
Hearing every sound isn’t the same as understanding what those sounds mean.
People with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) often have normal hearing but have difficulty processing and interpreting what they hear, especially in noisy environments or fast-paced conversations.
At Mt. Harrison Audiology, we provide comprehensive APD evaluations for both children and adults to help identify the source of communication difficulties and develop strategies that make everyday listening easier.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorder affects how the brain interprets sound—not how well the ears hear it.
Someone with APD may hear sounds at a normal volume but struggle to distinguish similar words, follow conversations, or make sense of speech in challenging listening environments.
Because hearing tests are often normal, these challenges can be frustrating and confusing for both the individual and their family.
The good news? Once identified, there are strategies and accommodations that can make communication significantly easier.
Signs in children
Your child may:
Frequently ask people to repeat themselves
Have trouble following multi-step directions
Struggle to understand speech in classrooms or noisy settings
Seem distracted or inattentive when spoken to
Have difficulty with reading, spelling, or language development
Perform better in one-on-one conversations than in groups
Mishear similar-sounding words
These challenges are often mistaken for hearing loss, attention difficulties, or simply "not listening."
Adults with APD
Signs in adults:
Hear people talking but struggle to understand what they're saying
Find conversations exhausting, especially in restaurants or groups
Frequently misunderstand words or instructions
Need subtitles when watching television
Feel overwhelmed by background noise
Avoid social situations because listening has become difficult
Many adults have lived with these challenges for years without realizing there may be an underlying explanation.
How is APD different from hearing loss?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions.
With hearing loss, the ears have difficulty detecting sound.
With Auditory Processing Disorder, the ears may hear normally—but the brain has difficulty organizing, interpreting, and making sense of the information it receives.
That's why a standard hearing test alone cannot diagnose APD.
A specialized evaluation is needed to understand how your auditory system processes speech and sound.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
Let’s identify what's causing your symptoms.