Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Central auditory processing disorder refers to a difficulty of the nervous system in interpreting and making sense of sounds, even when hearing, in terms of the ability to hear, is within the expected range.

How it presents: Someone who has it may have trouble understanding speech in noisy environments, following spoken instructions, or distinguishing similar sounds, which is sometimes confused with a lack of attention.

When is it worth evaluating? It is usually noticed during the school years, when difficulties understanding what is heard affect learning or communication.

Which specialist assesses it? The audiologist is the professional who evaluates how the auditory system processes sounds. If you observe persistent difficulties understanding what is heard, an audiological evaluation helps better understand the situation.