Auditory Processing disorder
How is it treated?
There is no cure for APD but there are a number of ways to help an affected child:
Clinic/hearing services:
- hearing training programmes and strategies (exercises to help the child understand better when listening);
- parental support programmes.
In the classroom:
- sitting near the teacher's desk to aid lip reading and other cues;
- asking the teacher to check that the child is looking and listening when instructions are given out, especially if the teacher walks around when talking;
- the provision by the teacher of written information to older children which might be used to consolidate verbal instructions;
- the reduction of classroom noise (more carpeting and soft furnishings, rubber feet on table and chair legs etc);
- the provision of listening devices to make speech clearer in noisy situations - for example, a soundfield system in the main classroom or personal fm systems.
In the home:
- encouraging the child to do any listening learning exercises as prescribed;
- checking if the child is looking and listening when necessary;
- the reduction of background noise in the home (such as TV or radio) when trying to communicate
How is it diagnosed?
| Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis 
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