ENT not aware of Auditory Processing Disorders (APD)??

Ktllc

New Member
V had his post surgery audiology and ENT appointments. Everything is fine.
I asked him if he knew of any audiologist who diagnosis Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) in young kids and he replies that V's hearing is fine.
What?? I explain that Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) and good hearing are not a contradiction. He goes on saying that since V could repeat the words he heard in the hearing booth, he had no processing issues. He has never had any patients with an Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) diagnosis.
Is this doctor completly out of his league?? Or Am I missing something??
As far as V's behavior and such. Nothing has changed even though it was a successful surgery. And as far as I'm concerned, he still has some "hearing" difficulties. One example, V was telling us that the words "tell" and "tail" are identical although they have different meanings. He could not hear the difference. And I have A LOT of those examples.
Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) moms: have you heard of any audiologist who would test an almost 5 year old??
 

buddy

New Member
VERY common. There are even doctors who still dont believe in sensory processing difficulties. It is pretty unreal to me. I just found an audiologist to do the full Auditory Processing evaluation. Ask the district audiologist or whoever they contract with if they know of a center that does that. Any of these close to you??
 

soapbox

Member
The advanced audiology specialist who tested our difficult child told us that as far as she is concerned, the only Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) they can test for "early" is classical Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) - verbal language processing difficulties. The "other" APDs... they can't touch at all until at least age 7. The child doesn't have the maturity to provide accurate feedback on these kinds of tests.
 

buddy

New Member
that is right, but I would still get connected and have someone follow us... they can give the best recommendations based on symptoms and since you already have confirmation of the language processing problems it can only help to have input.
 

Ktllc

New Member
I have tried some of the links. So far, no luck... One university is supposed to call me back, but the secretary told me it is unlikely that the audiologist will accept seeing V.
It just seems to be a dead end right now, although very real for V.
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is working with him, and it hurts me to see how he struggles during the session. I knew there was a problem but it is really painful to watch. I can just see how awful it will be in school next year.
Right now, it is near impossible for him to retell a short story. If he catches 1 word, that's about it. It's like the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is talking chinese to him. Then V gets bored and starts rolling all over the floor.
I can see the teachers mentioning hyperactivity or inattention, when really the problem is that he does not get what is being said to him.
In a way, it reminds me of when I first came to the US. My English was mediocre and I would just get disconnected. It's not that I did not care, it was just too hard to pay attention and try to understand all the time.
I'm also wondering if, maybe, we are still missing something else... All the specialists talk about V being "complex" or "find something new every week". Maybe we are not conceptualizing the problem the proper way and that's why it seems so confusing?
 

soapbox

Member
There are Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) screening tests that can be done... here, that is where they start with tracking down Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) issues.
But I'm not a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), and don't know what the age ranges are for specific tests.
If the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) screening shows Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) abnormalties, then the advanced audiologist takes over - NOT an ENT... which may be part of the confusion.

Do you know what tests specifically the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) has run? And whether the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is aware of ways to screen for Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), auditory figure ground, and other APDs?
We were told to differentiate between "screen" and "test"... in many areas, the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) will "refer" to audiology or others for more detailed testing, so the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) "testing" is called "screening" instead. If nothing shows up on the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) screening, no referal is given.
 

DammitJanet

Well-Known Member
Try UNC Chapel Hill. I think they have the most cutting edge stuff with kids. That is where we took Cory for something called a neuropsychopharmocologist way back when he was 9 and that was almost unheard of. Not that we got a whole heck of a lot of information out of the appointment other than that he was very treatment resistant to the plan that the doctors that he was currently seeing had him on and that they needed to be looking at something else and perhaps different medications would improve his situation.
 

Ktllc

New Member
Janet, interesting that you mention UNC Chapel Hill. I actually call them and they stopped evaluating Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) about 10 years ago. They are cutting edge for hearing loss though.
Soapbox, I am not sure of the tests the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) ran. But he is also trying to find an audiologist. So far, the people he contacted did not get back to him.
It is just all very frustrating.
 

buddy

New Member
I have tried some of the links. So far, no luck... One university is supposed to call me back, but the secretary told me it is unlikely that the audiologist will accept seeing V.
It just seems to be a dead end right now, although very real for V.
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is working with him, and it hurts me to see how he struggles during the session. I knew there was a problem but it is really painful to watch. I can just see how awful it will be in school next year.
Right now, it is near impossible for him to retell a short story. If he catches 1 word, that's about it. It's like the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is talking chinese to him. Then V gets bored and starts rolling all over the floor.
I can see the teachers mentioning hyperactivity or inattention, when really the problem is that he does not get what is being said to him.
In a way, it reminds me of when I first came to the US. My English was mediocre and I would just get disconnected. It's not that I did not care, it was just too hard to pay attention and try to understand all the time.
I'm also wondering if, maybe, we are still missing something else... All the specialists talk about V being "complex" or "find something new every week". Maybe we are not conceptualizing the problem the proper way and that's why it seems so confusing?

I think you are probably right. It would be great if there was one answer and that was it I suppose but given his other symptoms, it is likely he does have some thinking patterns and sensory issues as you have discussed in the past. Still, the important thing is that even with the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) saying there is a language processing problem you can get many of the same accommodations that you would want overall. As time goes on you can keep gathering data and get that evaluation done. Q has his auditory trainer based on only the language processing disorder diagnosis. Even if his inability to retell stories is related to having a difficulty sequencing and formulating the words (also happens independent of processing problems, so could be for a couple of reasons as you said) you would work on it by giving very short broken up directions. You can use visuals to help tell and retell stories. I have bought two paperback children's stories. You can use one to tell a story. Cut up pictures from the important parts from the other book. Start with only two pictures one from the beginning one from the end... first this happened then this happened. Eventually add simple words to it.... First the dog dug a hole. Then the dog hid his bone.

As time goes on you can add pictures, expand the stories, talk about the characters and help him build up memory and words.

You can do the same with your own adventures.... take pictures of what you do. Make cheap copies and practice putting them in order with simple statements.

With your schedule boards the same thing can be done... have pics of your car, your house, his coat/mittens/etc...

You can play games and put things in order and tell stories.

When there is a task to do really just give him only one thing at a time. V come into mommy's room. Pick up your toy. Go to your room (follow him). Put the toy in the bucket.

For grade K, the typical things like preferential seating, using non verbals, make sure you have his attention before talking, facing the kids when talking, etc... will to be included in the IEP accommodations. I'd make sure the wording is that...at a minimum these things will be done.... not "may include but not limited to..." because they come off as options.

In school he can have the visual schedules and task boards we discussed a long time ago... so when there is a school assignment...like how kids in K will get papers, have to cut along the lines, then glue pieces onto another paper in the right places.... those kinds of directions can be put on a small personal white board with little boxes to check off as he does each one. I typically drew (and I am no artist) pics of scissors, trash can, glue, etc.. sometimes I had a pile of pics that are laminated with velcro and then you can put htem in order and add little drawings for pics you dont have. Teachers can give directions by doing demonstrations which is often what they do in K anyway... but they often do the whole thing then have the kids do it...would be good to ask teachers to do things step by step. If they can't/dont to have the task board as a back up along with an adult to help guide him at those times. Play time and recess become tricky because there are social issues mixed in. It is a great time to work on goals but people dont use the opportunity wisely.... you can push for it though and try to get them to use the visuals etc. to help teach rules and strategy etc.

There will be a way, you are so ahead of the game knowing this is an issue! But, be prepared, in my humble opinion you will be doing a lot of educating from the very beginning and what is super frustrating is you will probably have to do it again during the year and for sure each year he starts with a new teacher even though you will have transition meetings the year before. people listen and say they understand but then when they really live it day to day they forget and you have to point out THAT is exactly what I was trying to tell you.

Where are you with the "behavior therapy" that you have listed as weekly... these are the folks that came and went right? (do I remember right? sorry) Seems like if you use this any more they would have to be very educated on these issues so they are approaching the cause of the issue. Do you need them now? or do you think upping the Occupational Therapist (OT), Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), Special Education stuff will be more helpful?

V and sweet pea have such an amazing mom to dig in to these things and be so on top of things. I will be so interested to hear how your journey unfolds.
 

Ktllc

New Member
Buddy, thanks for your detailed response!
It is always so helpful to have some practical tips. Visual schedule and visual directions will be a must next year. I will furnish the school with all the pics, this way they can't complain it is too complicated to implement. As a matter of fact, that's what I did this year. The teachers made copies and taped the visual schedule schedule to the wall for everyone to see. The teacher told me that V still uses it and tries to verbalize it. That alone proves how helpful it is to him!
As far as the behavioral therapist, I'll take V to see her for the first time this week. I'm not sure if we need her to be honest. I'll see how it goes. A lot of times, I see that V will head towards a tantrum out of frustration. This morning, he was trying to ask me a question. I could not make sense of it and he started shaking, got loud and almost rude. Once I understood the meaning of his question and gave the answer, all was fine.
 
Top