Kalpa Gargi

An Introduction to Auditory Processing Disorder

Started July 24, 2024

Abstract or project description

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a neurological disorder that causes severe difficulties with speech, language learning, and non-verbal communication in school-age children. Although APD is a heavily underdiagnosed condition that affects millions of children worldwide, research into treatments have been sorely lacking. In APD, hearing remains intact, but several post-processing nodes have deformities that can impede understanding of auditory input. Diagnosis is initially performed by parents, which is then followed up by testing from an audiologist. However, due to the lack of cognizance in most parts of the world, underdiagnosis is extremely prevalent. In addition, treatment typically involves auditory therapies to help compensate for the deficit, but this is underdeveloped and insufficient in rectifying the underlying mechanisms of APD problem. This paper explores the cutting edge treatments for the future and brings awareness to the difficulties children with APD face, especially in non-English speaking countries that lack the already underdeveloped therapies.