Understanding Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) in Children: A Guide for Parents

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) affects approximately 7%–10% of children, impacting their ability to process auditory information effectively. According to recent statistics from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), this condition can lead to challenges in academic performance, social interactions, and verbal communication development.

What Is CAPD?

CAPD is a neurological condition where the brain struggles to interpret sounds correctly, despite normal hearing abilities. This can lead to difficulties in understanding speech, especially in noisy environments, following verbal instructions, and distinguishing between similar sounds.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Parents might observe the following behaviors in children with CAPD:

• Difficulty Understanding Speech in Noise: Struggling to comprehend speech in the presence of background noise.

• Frequent Requests for Repetition: Often saying "huh?" or "what?" during conversations.

• Trouble Following Verbal Directions: Difficulty in following multi-step spoken instructions.

• Academic Challenges: Struggles with reading, spelling, and understanding verbal math problems.

• Misinterpretation of Jokes or Sarcasm: Difficulty understanding nuanced language and social cues.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing CAPD requires a comprehensive evaluation by an audiologist, typically for children aged 7 and older. At Achieve Hearing, we specialize in advanced audiological assessments to identify specific auditory processing challenges. These evaluations include listening tests in controlled environments to pinpoint the areas where support is needed most.

Management and Treatment

Early intervention plays a vital role in supporting children with CAPD. Effective strategies include:

• Auditory Training: Exercises designed to enhance auditory skills and listening comprehension.

• Environmental Modifications: Reducing background noise at home or school and using assistive listening devices.

• Collaborative Support: Engaging teachers and speech-language pathologists to tailor classroom accommodations.

• Verbal Communication Development: At Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation, we provide comprehensive programs to help children improve their verbal communication skills and build confidence in social interactions.

How AchieveHearing.com Can Help

At AchieveHearing.com, we offer a range of services and resources to assist parents and children:

• Comprehensive Assessments: Our experienced audiologists provide thorough evaluations to diagnose CAPD accurately.

• Individualized Treatment Plans: We design custom interventions tailored to your child's unique needs.

• Parental Support: Access to educational materials and guidance to help you support your child at home.

• Ongoing Care: Continuous monitoring and adjustments to ensure your child’s progress over time.

Conclusion

Understanding CAPD and seeking the right support early can make a difference. With the right strategies, children with CAPD can thrive academically and socially. Visit AchieveHearing.com to learn how we can help your child overcome auditory processing challenges and achieve a balanced life.

Call Us Today 972-608-0416 – Plano office: Tollway & Parker, Dallas office: 635 & Hillcrest

Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation – Achieve a balanced life.

Comprehensive Support for Your Child's CAPD: Expert Guidance from Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation

If you suspect your child may have Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), it's crucial to seek professional help to ensure they receive the support they need. Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation, led by the highly experienced Amy McKay Gehan, M.A., CCC-SLP, offers comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans. 

Gehan, an esteemed audiologist and speech-language pathologist, specializes in CAPD and is dedicated to improving children's auditory processing and language skills. Trust Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation to provide expert care and guidance for your child's unique needs.

1. Observe and Document Symptoms: Note behaviors like difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments or frequently asking for repetition. Detailed observations help in accurate CAPD diagnosis.

2. Seek an Evaluation: Schedule a comprehensive evaluation with Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation. Tests in a sound-treated room assess auditory processing, typically reliable for children aged 7 and older.

3. Consult the Team: Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to understand your child's auditory, cognitive, and educational needs.

4. Develop a Treatment Plan: Work with Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation to create a personalized plan, including environmental modifications, auditory training, and cognitive skill enhancement strategies.

5. Educate and Advocate: Learn about CAPD and its impact to advocate effectively for necessary accommodations. Work with your child's teachers on classroom strategies to support your child.

By following these steps, you can ensure your child receives appropriate support and intervention from Achieve Hearing & Rehabilitation to manage CAPD effectively and live a balanced life.  Learn more at achievehearing.com or call 972.608.0416

Achieve a balanced life.

It's A Really Good Idea To Travel with Your Hearing Aids

 

I am packing for the Memorial Day weekend and listening to the KERA (radio) when I hear DFW Airport announced expansion plans to build a new Terminal F – to the third-busiest airport in the world. If it weren't for my new hearing aids, I would have missed the good news for many Dallas residents.  

"3 million people expected to take to the skies this Memorial Day weekend."   

– AAA Newsroom

One thing you want to remember whenever you travel is to make sure you take your hearing aids. Being caught without your hearing aids can put a damper on things. You never want to miss hearing your grandbaby giggling and laughing or your daughter and her cousin arguing in the kitchen over the last piece of Mimi's Rum Carrot Cake. How about the guys schooled by your granddaughter in the Media room over why the Denver Nuggets should win the NBA Championships? These are situations in life better heard than not.

Nowadays, there are so many hearing aid brands to choose from, everything from Over-the-Counter (OTC) that are FDA-regulated medical devices purchased without a hearing exam, prescription, or appointment with an audiologist to prescription hearing aids ordered by an audiologist who can help you prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting protective hearing devices and educating patients on the effects of noise on hearing - the prevention, identification, and management of hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance system dysfunction. The choice is yours, but I recommend visiting an audiologist. Prescription hearing aids may cost you more and take a little more of your time, but you'll have the confidence of knowing your hearing aids are an exact fit and the best technology for your specific type of hearing loss. One of the best things about my Starkey hearing aid charger is that it can last up to 36 hours on a single charge.  

"Your hearing aids should be one of the first things on your packing list when it is time for a trip." 

– Starkey Laboratories, Inc

When I travel, I bring my Starkey Rechargeable Hearing Aids with me. The airport does not require removing any hearing aids. However, according to TSA, additional screening, including a pat-down or inspection of a device, may be required if it alarms the walk-through metal detector or advanced imaging technology. Furthermore, I found out that the FAA exempts devices like hearing aids and pacemakers because they do not emit signals that might interfere with aircraft controls. Flying Fallacy — You do not have to turn off your hearing aids or their wireless features on a plane. 

Five tips for travelers who wear hearing aids:

1. Power is Paramount — Make sure you are traveling with the correct power source for your hearing aids! Having your charger and power cord packed — or bringing extra batteries — is important to keeping your aids usable your entire trip.
2. Confidence in Communication — Don’t leave your hearing aids at home in an attempt to keep them safe. If you have a set plan in place for traveling with your hearing aids, then a loss is unlikely and you will be able to hear clearly throughout your travels
3. Accessory Access — Bring accessories like Remote Microphones or a Table Mic. Having tools that can best help you communicate with the world around you will help your vacation be high in enjoyment and low in stress!
4. Lodging Logistics — Establish a dedicated area within your home-away-from-home for your hearing aid supplies/accessories when you reach your destination. Do not leave them balled up in napkins or tissues and always put them in their case in the designated space.
5. Keep it Clean — Don’t forget your cleaning tools (cloth, brush, wax guards, etc.); If the microphone is covered with earwax or dirt, then it can affect the quality of the sound that is output into your ear, and ultimately your travel experience.

"If you attend an aviation safety meeting for pilots, you will probably notice two things: the number of pilots with gray hair, and the number who use hearing aids." 

 – FAA Safety Briefing (2020)

By now, you should be thinking, "Oh great, then I will take my hearing aids on my trip." If it is your kids hearing aids, Dr. Arthur Lavin, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health says, “Family vacations are a gift parents give to their kids. As important as it is to share the world with typically developed children, it’s also important for special-needs children to have adventures and fun.”

Bon voyage!

References

FAA Safety Briefing | Aviation Communication (2020)

TSA Screening

AAA Newsroom

Starkey Laboratories, Inc

AARP