Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition that affects how the brain processes auditory information. Individuals with APD have normal hearing ability, but they struggle to interpret and make sense of sounds, especially in noisy environments. This can lead to difficulties in understanding speech, following conversations, distinguishing between similar sounds, and remembering auditory information

APD can impact various aspects of daily life, including academic performance, social interactions, and overall communication skills. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to guarantee children and adults proper accommodations so they can understand and engage with others in academic, professional, and social environments.

Auditory Processing Disorder Symptoms:

  • Academic challenges, including poor reading and spelling

  • Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments

  • Difficulty distinguishing between similar sounds

  • Difficulty following verbal directions, especially when there are multiple steps

  • Inability to correctly identify the source of a sound

  • Repeatedly asking for things to be repeated

Neurofeedback for Auditory Processing Disorder

Neurofeedback can be a valuable tool in helping individuals with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). This type of biofeedback uses real-time monitoring of brain activity to teach self-regulation of brain function. Here's how it can assist those with APD:

  • Improving Auditory Attention: Neurofeedback can train the brain to enhance focus and attention to auditory stimuli. This can help individuals with APD to better concentrate on and process sounds and speech.

  • Enhancing Neural Pathways: By targeting specific brain waves, neurofeedback can strengthen the neural pathways involved in auditory processing. This can improve the brain's ability to interpret and understand sounds.

  • Reducing Auditory Overload: Neurofeedback can help in managing sensory overload by training the brain to filter out irrelevant sounds and focus on important auditory information, making it easier for individuals to cope in noisy environments.

  • Boosting Memory and Learning: Neurofeedback can enhance cognitive functions such as working memory and auditory memory, which are crucial for processing and recalling auditory information.

  • Personalized Training: Neurofeedback provides individualized training based on the unique brain patterns of each person with APD, leading to more effective and targeted improvements.

How does Neurofeedback work?

  • Brain map New York City

    1. Brain map

    Brainwave assessment identifies imbalances and helps to create a personalized treatment plan.

  • Neurofeedback setup

    2. Treatment setup

    Non-invasive sensors and headphones are placed on your head and the treatment session begins.

  • Brain training

    3. Brain activation

    Software translates your brainwave data and stops or starts audio/visual media based on your brain activity.

  • nyc neurofeedback

    4. Conditioning

    In response to the audio/visual feedback, your brain adapts and learns to regulate your brainwaves and build new, healthy neural pathways.

  • Brain training

    5. Brain Training

    Over time with continuous brain training, healthy brain activity in target regions increases, and symptom-associated activity decreases.

Related Research

Communication, Listening, Cognitive and Speech Perception Skills in Children With Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) or Specific Language Impairment (SLI). Click here

Increasing cortical activity in auditory areas through neurofeedback functional magnetic resonance imaging. Click here

Intracerebral functional connectivity-guided neurofeedback as a putative rehabilitative intervention for ameliorating auditory-related dysfunctions. Click here