Auditory Processing Disorder is a relatively recently recognised condition (first noted in the USA in the mid 1960's) that we do not understand a lot about. We have designed this pamphlet to answer as many of your questions as possible, as honestly as we can.

Most of us hear well and so don't give much thought to how we hear.

Hearing starts with a very complex set of actions within the outer, middle and inner ear.

These actions send the sounds to our brain, and our brain interprets them so we can understand.

For example, it tells us the whistling we hear is a bird singing.

When a child's ears are working well, but the child cannot understand the sounds they hear, the child may have an `auditory processing disorder' (abbreviated to `APD').

We do not yet have any firm evidence on how many children have APD.

It is possible that as many as 10% of children may have some level of APD.

Some children with APD behave as if they cannot hear.

Hearing, and listening, in noisy places can be especially difficult for many children with APD.

Although some parents realise their child has difficulties with understanding from an early age, APD often becomes more obvious when children start at school.

Teachers are sometimes the first to spot the difficulty, especially if the children have difficulties learning to read.

Concern arises because children with APD often have normal intelligence, and so would be expected to pick up reading at the usual age.

Below are some comments made by children with APD:

I can't understand what people are saying when it's noisy

I can't remember what I'm told - especially if it's a lot of instructions

I can't seem to concentrate unless it's very quiet in the room

If someone talks very quickly, I misunderstand what they say

Below are some comments from parents and teachers of children with APD:

The teacher feels my child acts like he can't hear, but he's always passed the health visitor and school hearing screens

One of my students is performing poorly in reading, but I know she is bright and I don't understand why this is so difficult for her