As a dyslexia specialist, it often becomes clear when working with students, that there is something more than dyslexia. Often, I identify that a student struggles to understand instructions or has difficulty processing sounds, sometimes they will drop sounds when spelling, sometimes they will talk about sensitivity to ‘noise’. This can be something as simple as a ticking clock, the ‘clanging’ of cutlery or feeling the need to cover their ears at the sound of a hand-dryer in the toilet or the sound of the hoover. This can often result in ‘melt-downs’ or ‘behaviour’ responses. This is however hyperacusis, a separate and unrelated condition. It can often co-exist with APD. Some might even think the characteristics are that of ASD (Autism) or ADHD. On further questioning I will often be told that a student struggles to concentrate and is easily distracted but not all people with APD experience this. Others may say they get information mixed up when listening or ‘get the mucky end of the stick’, others might hear words incorrectly and hence pronounce them wrong. I often ask if students have experienced ear infections or glue ear. Some will even tell me they have had grommets fitted. Most of the time I will be told that a student has repeatedly had hearing tests and nothing has been found. It should be noted that this is not an exclusive list of symptoms or in fact that a person would experience all these characteristics. Like all ‘disabilities’ each person has a unique set of characteristics. It’s very unlikely anything will be found during a standard hearing test, as it’s not the ear’s ability to hear but the brain’s ability to process the sound and information.
APD
I recently met a young man and he presented with so many of these traits. As a result I was able to refer him to a local NHS audiology hospital for some tests. However, in the main they use SCAN-3 which is not considered to be the full battery of tests to diagnose APD (Auditory Processing Difficulties). The referral was to a centre which has more knowledge of APD but cannot give a conclusive diagnosis. In general, most audiology departments do not fully assess for APD and this is something Alyson Mountjoy of APD Support UK campaigns for. Luckily Alyson provides fantastic support and advice and is able to signpost those needing full testing to the correct centres. However they are few and far between in the UK and getting a full diagnosis can be difficult.
I had advised the parents of the young man that he may not receive a full diagnosis and they should be prepared to travel to London to be able to receive a full diagnosis. They were lucky to be able to do this and a conclusive diagnosis was given. They recently wrote to me with the following;
“I am glad to say if we hadn’t had met with you, we would never had know about APD or Visual Processing and my son would be struggling at school until he had got so far behind the school noticed that there was problems. If we were not so pro active parents going over with him what he has learnt at school he would be even further behind than he is already.
We are so very grateful that you picked this up and supported us getting the first assessment at the hospital which we used as a stepping stone for further testing.
