AUDITORY PROCESSING

DISORDER

CHILDREN WITH APD

STUGGLE WITH:
PROCESSING DISORDER?
Filtering out background noises
1 to concentrate on the way
words sound.
Expressing themselves as
2 students with ADP tends to
have a weak vocabulary.
Difficultly in differentiating
3 between different isolated
sounds such as ’k’ and ‘t’.
Following directions that
4 requires multiple steps and
remembering information.
Reading, spelling and
5 comprehension.
WHAT IS AUDITORY
APD affects about 5%
of school-aged children.
Auditory processing disorder is a
sound and language learning
However, a child’s auditory
system isn’t fully developed
difficulty. A person with auditory
until the age of 15.
processing disorder would most
likely have functional hearing
structures but their brain would
have difficulty to interpret the
Hence, students with
APD can develop better
sounds that is heard by their ears.
Their brain struggles to filter, auditory processing
recognise, sort, isolate, prioritise
and process auditory input.
skills over time as their
Therefore, children with auditory auditory system
processing disorder often results matures.
in the difficulty of learning how to (Kids Health 2014)
read and express themselves
clearly.

STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH APD IN THE CLASSROOM

Use non-verbal cues.
Students with APD often
rely on language, gestures
and mouth movement to
gain understanding.
Use short, simple
sentences and allow for
lag time. This provides time
for students with APD to
process the information.
Pause between instruction Multisensory activities.
and ask students to Increases opportunities for
repeat. This allows students with APD to
educators to check for participate and understand
understanding. the content being taught.

Use numbered steps or
logical time sequences
when giving instructions.
This helps students with
APD to recall information.
Classroom amplification Use visual aids. Show Preferential seating. Sit
systems. FM rather than tell to enhance students with APD away
systems/microphone understanding. from noisy areas and closer
systems helps to amplify the to the teacher.
sounds for students with
APD to filter out background
noises.
 Individual Learning Plan.
Provide students with APD to
set learning goals to achieve
each term and adjustment in
the classroom.
Modelling the task to the
whole class. To provide
more instructional support
for students with APD.
Having an adult scribe to
write class notes when
necessary. To assist
students with APD to not
miss key information.
1:1 support. After
instructions are given to
the whole class, check for
understanding and provide
additional support

SUPPORT SERVICES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

📞: 8272 9997
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
📍:408 Goodwood Road, Cumberland Park SA
SPEECH AND HEARING 🌐 :http://www.sashc.com.au/

📞: 8255 7137
TALKING MATTERS 📍:238 Midway Road, Elizabeth Downs, South Australia 5113
🌐 :https://www.talkingmatters.com.au/

📞: 1300 669 446

ADELAIDE SPEECH 📍:69 Goodwood Rd, Wayville, SA, 5034
PATHOLOGY SERVICE 🌐 :http://www.adelaidespeech.com

📞: 8178 3955
CAN:DO HEARING 📍:327 South Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
🌐 :https://www.candohearing.com.au/auditory-possessing-disorder-apd/
I Get it! I Get it! How John figures
it out. This picture book
demonstrates what APD from a
child's point of view. Therefore, if This service supports families, educators and children with
used as a resource for the class, it APD through online programs and information.
will increase classroom awareness https://soniclearning.com.au/
of students with APD and promote
inclusion.

INCLUSION IN THE CLASSROOM

Often students who have APD also have other conditions such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia or
ASD. Therefore, it is important to cater to all learning needs of these students (understood.org, 2014)
Learning difficulty Definition Support Service in SA

Dysgraphia A learning disability in writing. Kid Sense | 1800 543 736

90 Unley Road UNLEY SA 5061

Dyspraxia A learning disability in Talking matters | 8255 7137

movement and coordination. 238 Midway Road, Elizabeth Downs, 5113

Dyslexia A learning disability in reading Adelaide speech pathology | 1300 669 446
accurately and fluently. 69 Goodwood Rd, Wayville, SA, 5034

Autism spectrum A learning disability in Autism SA

disorder communication and interaction. https://www.autismsa.org.au/