Upon hearing the term "auditory processing deficit" most people think of someone who does not hear something well.
They mistakenly are thinking about the person's hearing acuity.
Auditory processing is what the brain does with sound impulses once these impulses leave the ear.
For some, the complicated chain of events in auditory processing presents barriers and is overlooked.
This can result in false or inaccurate diagnoses.
Sometimes a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is not ADD at all, but is a deficit in attention secondary to an auditory processing deficit.
In other words, the auditory processing deficit causes the individual to look like he/she is not paying attention.
Why, you ask? Imagine you are in a bad cell phone area.
You can only hear every third or fourth word.
Your frustration level rises, because what is being said is not clear.
If the reception does not clear up, you hang up, only to try later.
You have lost your attention and concentration on the call.
Does that mean you have ADD? Hardly.
For someone with an auditory processing deficit a similar scenario occurs on a regular basis.
As an example, he or she is sitting in a classroom with a teacher lecturing.
Only every second or third word is being processed properly.
Before too long, the frustration level rises, and attention and concentration are lost.
The observer sees the lack of attention and comes to the conclusion that the student has ADD.
But the conclusion would be incorrect.
However, when reported to a parent and then to a doctor, the wrong treatment regimen is undertaken leading to more frustration and failure.
There are actually three components to auditory processing.
Each can be independently assessed by an Auditory Evoked Response (AER), Frequency Modulated Auditory Evoked Response (FMAER), and a P300.
The AER assesses functional pathways as sound travels and is processed from the ear to the temporal cortex of the brain.
The FMAER employs a specific auditory wavelength that "warbles" in pitch, creating a sound the brain recognizes as language.
The P300 identifies the parameters of auditory attention in different parts of the brain and the time it takes to distinguish sounds, e.
g.
"cat" versus "cut.
" It is important to clearly identify the sources of the problem in auditory processing deficits.
Different medications can affect each of the different auditory functions.
In some cases, a medication can make a particular auditory function worse.
Each of the three components should be evaluated together, otherwise a proper course of treatment becomes a mere guess.
When evaluated together with instrumentation such as a DESA (Digital Electroencephalogram Spectral Analysis and Evoked Potentials) or an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a much clearer picture emerges, enabling the clinician to formulate a better plan of action.
When such technology as the DESA exists with which to evaluate auditory processing deficits, it makes little clinical sense to not clearly define a problem.
Those with auditory processing deficits deserve to have complete information.
Copyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights reserved.
They mistakenly are thinking about the person's hearing acuity.
Auditory processing is what the brain does with sound impulses once these impulses leave the ear.
For some, the complicated chain of events in auditory processing presents barriers and is overlooked.
This can result in false or inaccurate diagnoses.
Sometimes a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is not ADD at all, but is a deficit in attention secondary to an auditory processing deficit.
In other words, the auditory processing deficit causes the individual to look like he/she is not paying attention.
Why, you ask? Imagine you are in a bad cell phone area.
You can only hear every third or fourth word.
Your frustration level rises, because what is being said is not clear.
If the reception does not clear up, you hang up, only to try later.
You have lost your attention and concentration on the call.
Does that mean you have ADD? Hardly.
For someone with an auditory processing deficit a similar scenario occurs on a regular basis.
As an example, he or she is sitting in a classroom with a teacher lecturing.
Only every second or third word is being processed properly.
Before too long, the frustration level rises, and attention and concentration are lost.
The observer sees the lack of attention and comes to the conclusion that the student has ADD.
But the conclusion would be incorrect.
However, when reported to a parent and then to a doctor, the wrong treatment regimen is undertaken leading to more frustration and failure.
There are actually three components to auditory processing.
Each can be independently assessed by an Auditory Evoked Response (AER), Frequency Modulated Auditory Evoked Response (FMAER), and a P300.
The AER assesses functional pathways as sound travels and is processed from the ear to the temporal cortex of the brain.
The FMAER employs a specific auditory wavelength that "warbles" in pitch, creating a sound the brain recognizes as language.
The P300 identifies the parameters of auditory attention in different parts of the brain and the time it takes to distinguish sounds, e.
g.
"cat" versus "cut.
" It is important to clearly identify the sources of the problem in auditory processing deficits.
Different medications can affect each of the different auditory functions.
In some cases, a medication can make a particular auditory function worse.
Each of the three components should be evaluated together, otherwise a proper course of treatment becomes a mere guess.
When evaluated together with instrumentation such as a DESA (Digital Electroencephalogram Spectral Analysis and Evoked Potentials) or an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a much clearer picture emerges, enabling the clinician to formulate a better plan of action.
When such technology as the DESA exists with which to evaluate auditory processing deficits, it makes little clinical sense to not clearly define a problem.
Those with auditory processing deficits deserve to have complete information.
Copyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights reserved.