How Auditory Processing Disorder Affects Us Psychologically

As humans, our ability to communicate with others has a profound effect on our psychological health. Our hearing health, in turn, plays a significant part in our communication techniques and our success as a communicator.A

dults with auditory processing disorder (APD) are able to hear sounds and voices, but experience difficulty in understanding and interpreting this orally received information. To outsiders, the person with APD may be viewed as a poor listener or someone who struggles with reading comprehension.

A recent study found that adults concerned about their auditory processing tended to feel anxious about the condition, which they view as a large-scale problem and something they complain about regularly. The study, which included 22 adults who reported difficulty listening in everyday life, suggested that the patients’ psychological states share similarities with subjects diagnosed with developmental disabilities such as AD/HD and autism spectrum disorder.

Although these subjects had normal hearing, they had difficulty understanding audible messages that were complex or given under noisy conditions. Many subjects were unable to fully recall stories they were presented, which led to feelings of anxiety.

Auditory Processing Symptoms

Those struggling with their hearing wellness may note the following behaviors at home or work:

• You find it difficult to remember people’s names after meeting them.
• It’s a struggle to comprehend conversation in a noisy environment.
• You experience problems following multi-step directions at work.
• The TV is turned up to full volume, but you still struggle to follow what’s going on.

Do you display any signs of auditory processing disorder? Call Audiology & Hearing Services of Charlotte at 704-412-7975 or contact us online.