What can be done to help if my child has APD?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#003300" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>A</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>P</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>D</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>U</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>K</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#5F5F5F" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="APDUK Information Sheets"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>       </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>Section Web Page List  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> | </B><B>  </B></FONT><A HREF="whatapd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Auditory Processing Disorder?"><U><B>What is Auditory Processing Disorder?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="causeapd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What causes APD?"><U><B>What causes APD?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="testapd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How do you test for APD"><U><B>How do you test for APD</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>What can be done to help if my child has APD?</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=5 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="043d2b03.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#C0DCC0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>What can be done to help if my child has APD?</I></div> <div> <B>AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (APD)</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Is there a cure for APD? </B></div> <bR> <div> No. </div> <div> Unfortunately there are no drugs or procedures which  `cure' this condition. </div> <div> Quite often parents report feeling a sense of relief for knowing why their children are struggling at school. </div> <div> <I><B>Equally, the children may also report a similar sense of relief. We are hopeful that useful treatments will be available in the future</B></I><I>.</I></div> <div> <I><B>What can be done to help if my child has APD? </B></I></div> <div> Although there is no `cure' for APD, there are things that the hearing clinic and the child's school and family can do to help. </div> <div> We have listed some of them here. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Clinic/Hearing Services</B></div> <div> Hearing training programmes and strategies (exercises to help the child understand better when listening) </div> <div> Parental support programmes  </div> <bR> <div> <B>School/Local Education Authority</B></div> <div> Child could sit near teacher's desk to aid lip reading and other cues</div> <div> Teacher could be asked to check child is looking and listening when instructions are given out, especially if teacher walks around when talking</div> <div> Teacher or classroom assistant could be asked to check child has heard and understood the instructions</div> <div> (For older children only) Teacher could be asked to provide written information which might be used to consolidate verbal instructions</div> <div> Classroom noise could be reduced (more carpeting and soft furnishings, rubber feet on table and chair legs etc)</div> <div> Listening devices could be provided to make speech clearer in noise - for example, a soundfield system in the main classroom or personal fm systems</div> <bR> <div> <B>AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (APD)</B></div> <div> <B>Home</B></div> <div> Family could encourage the child to do any listening learning exercises as prescribed  </div> <div> Family could check if the child is looking and listening when necessary</div> <div> Background noise in the home (such as TV or radio) could be reduced when trying to communicate.</div> <bR> <div> <B>What research is being done in the UK?</B></div> <div> Research is starting in many countries, including here in the UK. </div> <div> The results of these studies may help us to understand the disorder and provide better help for children identified with APD.  </div> <div> Work is already being carried out to try to establish:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc66333300.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">a general method to screen for APD</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc66333300.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">an appropriate set of tests to diagnose APD</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc66333300.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">appropriate training for children identified with APD</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc66333300.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">appropriate assistance for the children</div> <div> When we have developed these, all clinics will be able to use them. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Where can I get more information about APD?</B></div> <div> Websites </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apdstudygroup.org.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apdstudygroup.org.uk"><U><U>http://www.apdstudygroup.org.uk</U></U></A>  (UK research) </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apduk.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apduk.org/"><U><U>http://www.apduk.org/</U></U></A> (aimed at UK public)</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ihr.mrc.ac.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ihr.mrc.ac.uk"><U><U>http://www.ihr.mrc.ac.uk</U></U></A> (aimed at research community)</div> <div> <U>http://</U><A HREF="http://www.defeatingdeafness.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.defeatingdeafness.org/"><U><U>www.defeatingdeafness.org</U></U></A> (aimed at UK public and research community)</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/au"><U><U>http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.asp</U></U></A> (aimed at American public)</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/understand-apd-child.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disor"><U><U>http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/understand-apd-child.htm</U></U></A> (aimed at both research and public in America)</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ncapd.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ncapd.org"><U><U>http://www.ncapd.org</U></U></A> (aimed at parents and children with APD worldwide, and includes involvement from professionals working in APD worldwide)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Books</div> <div> Several appropriate books are suggested on the <A HREF="http://www.books.apduk.org/apd_books.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.books.apduk.org/apd_books.htm"><U><U>APDUK website</U></U></A><U>.</U></div> <div> Information on where to purchase them is also provided. </div> <div> APDUK also produces a Newsletter for its readership.</div> <bR> <div> <B>© MRC Institute of Hearing Research. April 2004</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>