What causes APD?

casuesAUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (APD)

What causes APD?

We still do not understand a lot about APD. It is possible that APD can run in families.

Parents of children with APD often report they have difficulties listening and hearing which may have started when they were young.

Some children with APD may have tiny differences in the way that brain cells (called `neurons') are joined together, or send messages to each other.

This may make it hard for sounds to be passed on to the areas of the brain which help the child understand language.

It is possible such brain cell differences may cause APD.

APD may also be caused by long term middle ear disease (`glue ear') or by limited access to communication.

In rare cases, injuries to the head may cause APD.

Is APD related to other difficulties?

It is likely that many (but not all) children who have language-learning difficulties may also have APD.

Professionals use different names to describe these difficulties.

The following points aim to help clarify the differences:

APD means the child finds it difficult to understand when LISTENING

Dyslexia means the child has difficulties with READING and or SPELLING

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) means the child finds it difficult to CONCENTRATE or ATTEND

Speech and Language disorder means the child has difficulties developing and or understanding SPEECH and LANGUAGE

It is possible that difficulties with concentration may cause both APD and dyslexia

or that these conditions may cause difficulties with concentration.

We do not know, but scientists are conducting research in this area,

and so hopefully we will be able to say in the not too distant future.