Some people exhibit classic signs of hearing loss: they do not hear well, or may only understand a portion of what is being said. They experience learning difficulties, particularly in environments with lots of background noise. When multiple people are talking, they lose focus and can’t follow the conversation.
What Is CAPD?
Parents, caregivers, or individuals may notice hearing or listening difficulties, but in many cases, the challenge is not traditional hearing loss—it may be Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). Also known as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), CAPD affects the way the brain processes sound, making it harder to understand or respond to auditory information correctly.
CAPD can affect people of all ages. Many individuals with CAPD have normal hearing in quiet environments; the difficulty lies in how their brain interprets and makes sense of the sounds they hear. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include challenges with:
- Hearing in noisy environments
- Following conversations
- Remembering spoken information
- Maintaining focus and attention
- Following directions
- Reading and spelling
- Processing nonverbal information
How Is CAPD Diagnosed?
Individuals with CAPD may have difficulty listening, understanding, or processing sounds, which can sometimes be mistaken for attention or learning challenges. Because these symptoms can resemble conditions such as ADHD or other learning difficulties, misdiagnosis is common.
An audiologist will start with a comprehensive hearing evaluation to ensure that overall hearing ability is normal. If hearing is within typical limits, the audiologist will conduct specialized auditory processing tests. These assessments evaluate skills such as understanding speech in background noise, remembering and sequencing sounds and distinguishing between similar sounds. The results provide a clear picture of auditory processing strengths and challenges, allowing the audiologist to develop a personalized plan to improve listening and communication.
Call Ear, Nose and Throat Associates at (260) 426-8117 for more information or to schedule an appointment.