It's a common experience for many individuals who are neurodivergent to struggle with listening and communication. For example, having problems focusing on verbal information can be a symptom of a broader issue involving general attention, leading to suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Problems understanding the intentions behind a verbal message might be part of a broader social interaction/communication issue leading to suspected Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), and issues comprehending some complex verbal instructions can be part of a language-based disorder such as Dyslexia.
Because those symptoms are related to the act of listening, individuals, especially children, are often referred to Audiology Departments to have their hearing checked. Most of the time, no peripheral hearing issues are detected, and the possibility of referring the child to an APD clinic is considered. But that’s where we have a problem. Listening is a complex skill intrinsically related to sensory, language and cognitive factors as well as mental health. Thus, to disentangle the problem by analytically analysing each factor, the clinical approach must be holistic, implying multidisciplinarity. The picture below shows common factors related to listening issues.
What is then the role of the Auditory Processing Assessment? It plays a crucial role not only in ruling out or not APD itself but in understanding the listening difficulties in depth, considering all the possible factors involved.
By holistically understanding the complexities of listening, we can guide parents and individuals to seek appropriate assessments, empowering them to consider each aspect of listening and, maybe, some specific Neurodivergence.
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