Auditory Processing Disorder: How To Adapt In The Classroom

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Hearing is complex. It is actually a process… First, sound waves from our environment (compression and expansion of air) travel into our ears. The sound waves vibrate the tiny bones in our inner ear, and these vibrations are converted into electrical signals. Finally, our brains process these auditory signals, translating them into “sounds” that we can recognize, interpret, and analyze.

People with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) have a problem with this final step of translating signals into meaningful sounds. Because of this, people with APD have trouble understanding and responding to sounds in their environment.

What Might APD Look Like In A Classroom

Challenges caused by APD can range from a student having trouble decoding sounds or language, to difficulty in isolating a specific sound in a noisy environment, or even complete intolerance of a specific noise.

Because of this wide range of potential challenges, Auditory Processing Disorder can present itself in many ways in a a classroom setting. A student might:

have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments or when more than one person is speaking
frequently misunderstand what’s been said
need a longer response time when a question is asked
have difficulty concentrating or paying attention
be sensitive to or distracted by background noise
have problems following rapid speech or complex directions
have trouble with learning or enjoying music
act out or leave environments suddenly (in reaction to certain noise)

Because a student with APD has problems processing and understanding sounds, they can often have trouble with learning activities, especially those that are presented verbally.

As with any diagnosis, it is key that you work with your child’s school, doctors, and other professionals to ensure proper identification of your child’d challenges and educational needs.

Classroom Accommodations For APD

Once your child’s needs are properly understood, work with the school IEP/504 team to make sure proper accommodations are put in place, creating an environment where your student is free to learn. Appropriate accommodations will vary greatly with each child, and should be individualized to their specific situation. Accommodations might include:

Preferred Seating – sitting close to sound source
Providing instructions in written form
Providing quite areas (free from background noise) for test taking
Usage of visual aids
Allowing or providing recording of lessons
Allowing breaks if a student becomes overwhelmed
Implementing noise-cancelling headphones
Incorporating assistive technology such as a personal frequency-modulated (FM) system, which uses a microphone and receiver to deliver sounds directly from a sound source (eg. the teacher) to your child’s ears

Advocate Comments

Auditory Processing Disorder can also coexist with other disabilities such as, Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and ADHD. Be patient, but tenacious in making sure your child is properly evaluated and diagnosed.

Both you and your child have many rights throughout this process under both IDEA and the Americans With Disabilities Act.

If you want some help and support in understanding the process, and in advocating for your student, feel free to give me a call for a free initial consultation.

Leah Sansone, M.Ed. | 919-510-3180