1. Auditory Processing Disorder
Language-based Interventions

2. What is auditory processing disorder (APD)?
APD affects the temporal regions of the brain.
Auditory inputs are
misinterpreted
3. Auditory processing disorder (APD) is defined as difficulties in the perceptual processing
auditory information (De Bonis & Moncrieff, 2008).Rosen, Adlard, and Van der Lely
(2009) describe common difficulties children exhibit associated with APD which are:
Distracted by background noise, difficulty following multi-step instructions, longer
time comprehending auditory directions, and occasionally misconstruing what is spoken
by another and apparent selective hearing.
Individuals identified as APD are found to use inefficient integration of auditory inputs
(Fiorello, Hale, & Snyder, 2006).Auditory processing is located in the temporal regions
of the brain.Tallal, Merzenich, Miller, & Jenkins (1998) found that temporal processing
deficits correlate highly with the phonological discrimination and processing deficits.
4. Learning disabilities are associated with APD.
Dyslexia
Language Impairment
Reading Disorder
ADHD
5. ASHA (2005) and DeBonis & Moncrieff (2008) conclude that auditory deficits do not
Cause language disorders, but occur in association with them.Other research supports
the idea that auditory processing deficits do underlie language and learning problems
(Cacace & Mc Farland, 1998; DeBonis &Moncrieff, 2008).APD, language impairment
(LI) And reading disorder (RD) all reflect difficulties processing language-based
Information.Sharma, Purdy, and Kelly (2008) link the symptoms of APD, LI, and RD
and also found that memory and attention deficits could co-occur with auditory
deficits.Dyslexia is another learning disability that is linked to auditory difficulties.
Greany, Tumner, and Chapman (1997) contend that dyslexics tend to use ineffective
Learning strategies, such as partial letter cues.Faulty phonemic awareness makes
Sounding out words difficult, and reading comprehension impaired.Staudt (2009)
reasons that if a child cannot read fluently that this seriously impairs reading
comprehension.
6. An Auditory Example of APD
Play
Many competing inputs
7. This audible example of APD demonstrates the difficulty of discriminating between
auditory inputs.Some disruptive auditory signals are more disruptive than others.
Rosen, Adlard, and Van der Lely (2009) contend that certain tones presented in
various placements and decibel levels could cause auditory processing disruption.
Most classroom instruction is auditory.The constant disruptive auditory signals
within a classroom make learning auditory information very difficult.The noise
causes a person with APD to either miss critical information or misconstrue
instruction. This leads to the conclusion that language-based alternative instruction
methods are needed for students with APD.
8. Language-based Alternative Teaching Methods
Peer Tutoring
Video Instruction
Early Intervention
9. Research shows that traditional learning methods are ineffective for children diagnosed with APD
(Xin & Reith, 2001; Van Keer & Verhaeghe, 2005; Greany, Hale, & Snyder, 2006; Staudt, 2009).Van
Keer & Verhaeghe (2005) suggest peer tutoring is an effective method of boosting both reading
comprehension and reading self-efficacy.The active nature of tutoring, which requires monitoring
and regulating the reading process of the younger student, helped improve meta-cognition skills and
therefore reading comprehension (Van Keer & Verhaeghe, 2005).
APD students benefit from an enriched learning environment.Xin & Reith (2001) found that video along with audio cues in context provide children concrete conceptions of vocabulary.Concrete conceptions of abstract word meanings allow children to build schemas that assist with accurate word encoding and retrieval.
Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to help learning disabled children.Hay, Elias,
Fielding-Barnsley, Homel, and Freiberg (2007) discovered that children with limited communication
experience should have opportunities for verbal interactions that support the child in using
progressively more linguistically complex dialogues.Practicing language through speech is an
effective means of organizing and processing language-based information (Hay et al.).
10.Language-Based Alternative Learning Methods
Play
Rhymes
Rhymes
Mary, Mary quite contrary
How does your grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
All in a row.
Humpty dumpty
Sat on a wall
11. Staudt (2009) and Greany, Tumner and Chapman (1997) developed reading
interventions centered on the use of rhyme.Staudt reasoned that an effective way
to increase reading fluency is through the use of fun, easy-to-read poetry.Reading
fluency is linked to solid reading comprehension (Staudt, 2009).The more fluently a
child reads the better able the child is to comprehend or process what is being read.
Greany et al. (1997) discovered that dyslexic children use ineffective word parsing
strategies.This means that these children do not correctly sound out words.
Rhyming words are more accessible to dyslexic children than phonemes (Greany et al.).
The use of rhymes help dyslexic children replace ineffective with effective learning
strategies.This also leads to better language processing
12. Professional Involvement and Further Research of APD
Audiologists
Speech Language Pathologists
Special Education Teachers
Students
13. Professionals, such as audiologists, speech language pathologists, and special education
teachers have questioned the existence of APD.Some argue that APD does not have
enough research to be a valid diagnosis (DeBonis and Moncrieff, 2008).Others argue
that the existence of APD is an indisputable fact due to clinical or teaching experience
with individuals exhibiting symptoms of APD (DeBonis and Moncrieff, 2008).
More research is needed to provide more empirical evidence of APD and to continue
providing alternative education methods.Another important outcome of research is
to provide more knowledge for professionals who help individuals struggling with APD.
The roles that audiologists, speech language pathologists and special education teachers
will be further defined by research on APD.Students who are identified as having APD
will have a more hopeful and promising educational experience if research on APD
continues.
14. References
References are in a document in the box.net application on my LinkedIn profile.
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