ADP - Auditory Processing Deficiency

Updated on February 05, 2008
H.E. asks from Miami, FL
3 answers

Has anyone had any experience with this? We have had hearing tests done on my 4.5 year old and was told that he had a hearing delay. I was told to have my son tested for apd.
He has been tested in a sound booth, the assessment is that he has a hearing delay. I spoke with a friend who is deaf and works with children with what is known as an audio processing deficiency. It's a neurological issue. The reason I'm having him tested now is that he starts elementary school in Aug and with a qualified assessment by a neurologist he will be able to get special services at school. She was telling me that a hearing delay is something that is a misnomer. I don't know enough about this condition. Does anyone know more?

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So What Happened?

This has been a roller coaster. I had the misfortune of meeting a sanctimonious, condescending and pompois neurologist. He diagnosed my son as having adhd. We huge argument as he said that my youngest had all the symptoms of adhd. I agreed with him on that level but I also asked him that surely if there are auditory processing issues they would manifest with the same symptoms. I asked him if food allergies would have the same effects. He said that he doesn't know enough about these and that the only course of action was Ritalin. I asked him if there were any long term effects like heart disease, cancer etc. in taking Ritalin over an extended period of time and he said no, but that my son should be checked by a cardiologist before taking the medication. I am absolutely flabbergasted, I had the feeling that this man was a drug peddler, surely drugs are the last resource and not the first course of action. I'm not discounting the adhd but I would definately not start by putting him on medication before having his auditory issues assessed first. I was also flabbergasted that here was a doctor who specialized in pediatric neurological issues, and it seemed that adhd was his speciality and his office was not geared for kids. We waited for nearly 4 hours for him, there were no toys or forms of entertainment for the full waiting room and when we finally saw him he was totally unnerved when any of his stuff was touched. I am certain that our children have become guinea pigs if 50% of all children suffer from adhd - how is that possible. Surely we need to reassess diet, pressures in terms of performance at school and structure of the schools, how can we be raising so many sick children? This experience has really left me rattled and a little alarmed.

More Answers

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S.I.

answers from Miami on

I had those same tests performed with my daughter at about the same age and i was told that she was completely deaf. of course i knew otherwise. our doctor reccomended that we take her to specialists and get more tests done. now maybe i should have listened to the doctor but no one knows your child better than you. this was the case with my little girl. i knew that she could hear just fine and when it came down to it she thought it was a fun game and messed up on purpose. about a year later she had the hearing test once again but this time they had better equipment and they pressurized her ears and low and behold they discovered that they had the wrong diagnoses and that she could hear everything just fine. perfect hearing is what they said. all i can tell you is that if you deeply feel like there is a problem go get it looked at. i wish i could tell you where to go but i have no idea. but at the same time you know your child better than anyone and if you feel like this is a misdiagnoses tell your doctor and ask them if there are different tests to check for hearing. or can you go somewhere where they have all the equipment to test. most kids that age don't understand what is going on when the tests are being performed and most of them don't pay that much attention to it either. i have three so i know this. to them its like a game. so basically i'm going to reccomend that you trust your instincts as a mother before you listen to the results of your test. docotrs can be wrong sometimes. ecspecially in my experience with doctors in south florida.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Daytona Beach on

I do not have any experience with this myself but have friends that are hearing impaired (deaf). In St. Augustine (FL) is The School for the Deaf and Blind - I would contact their main number and explain that you are in unfamiliar territory and need assistance. I have always found the people there to be helpful, supportive, and loving.

You can also look this up on WebMD.com --- A wonderful website that I turn to for everything!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Miami on

Was the testing done by an audiologist (sound booth)? That is the only way to really know for sure if there are hearing issues.

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