Download CAPD what is it

Central Auditory Processing: What is it?
What is the difference between a hearing loss and a central auditory processing
deficit?
The term hearing generally refers to the operation of the parts of the ear starting at the
outer ear and ending at the auditory nerve, which carries auditory information to the
brain. It is at the brain level that we make use of the auditory signal. The use we make
of this auditory signal is what is called central auditory processing (CAP). Children with
central auditory processing deficits (CAPD), typically have normal hearing sensitivity,
but experience difficulty analyzing or making sense of what they hear.
Are the terms “central auditory processing” and “auditory processing”
interchangeable?
Yes, the terms are currently being used interchangeably. And although not as common or
popular, the terms auditory perception, central deafness, word deafness, auditory
comprehension deficit, and auditory perceptual processing dysfunction have also been
used.
What behavioral characteristics might indicate that a child may have a CAPD?
Children with CAPD may demonstrate difficulties in speech, language, and/or learning,
especially in the areas of spelling and reading. They may also appear hearing impaired,
be inattentive, easily distractible, and have difficulty following oral directions.
How is CAPD diagnosed? What tests should be performed? Who should perform
the testing?
Often the speech and language therapist is the first to assess a child who has difficulty
listening and following directions, but a CAP problem cannot be completely assessed
without the help of an audiologist. Both the speech and language therapist and the
audiologist use standardized testing, questionnaires, and behavioral inventories to
evaluate CAPDs.
The speech and language therapist concentrates on evaluating the linguistic
characteristics of this disorder, and the audiologist concentrates on the broader aspects of
hearing. For example, the speech and language therapist would look at speech
production, how well the child follows increasingly more difficult directions,
discriminates speech sounds, or understands language. The audiologist would first make
sure the child has normal hearing acuity, and normal middle ear function. Middle ear
condition is known to affect central auditory performance and so must be assessed before
more sophisticated tests can be done. The ability to understand speech in the presence of
background noise, competing speech, and less than optimal listening conditions can be
tested.
What is the role of CAP in learning?
CAP is crucial to learning. At all grade levels most information communicated in the
classroom is auditory, and much casual learning is auditory as well. By the time a child
is ready for fourth grade, most auditory discrimination, speech and language
development, and memory and processing skills are mature and intact, except in children
with CAPD. Taking notes becomes difficult if listening requires all of a child’s attention.
Remembering assignments given verbally becomes difficult if a child has an auditory
problem.
If a person has a CAPD how might that affect speech and language?
A CAPD could affect speech in subtle ways. Some children who have difficulty hearing
the difference between speech sounds, or confuse syllable sequences, will manifest this
difficulty in their pronunciation. Some examples are “bizgetti” for “spaghetti” and
“ephelants” for “elephants.” These difficulties can persist beyond the age when they are
considered cute, and tend instead to become an embarrassment to the speaker. In
addition, vocabulary development and receptive language can be affected.
How are reading and writing affected by a CAPD?
It is not known why certain children with CAPD have reading and writing difficulties.
We have only found correlates (that is that if certain CAP problems are identified, then
we can expect certain reading and writing problems to be present), but the “why” is not
clear. Depending on the CAP difficulty, reading, comprehension, spelling, and
vocabulary will be affected.
Can anything be done to improve or cure a CAPD?
Remediation techniques are definitely helpful, particularly since the central auditory
processing system is not complete until somewhere between the ages 11 and 14, allowing
the child to be more responsive to change. Once the child is assessed, environmental
modifications for home and school can be suggested, and specific remediation techniques
can be employed by teachers and therapists.
Taken from Parent Journal, Spring 1995