Q: When is a hearing person like a deaf person?
A: When they have a condition known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD).
What Is CAPD?
In simple terms, CAPD is defined as when a hearing person hears words spoken, but their brain can not process the words normally.
Children with CAPD may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Have trouble associating sounds with their meanings
- Verbally indicate that they don't understand
- Not respond consistently to the same sounds
- Misunderstand a lot
- Want things repeated a lot
- Be easily distracted
- Have trouble following oral directions
- Not receive or express language well
- Have a slow response to verbal instructions
- Make mistakes repeating things that are said to them
- Have trouble remembering things they hear
The actual diagnosis is made by an audiologist, who determines that the child can indeed hear although the child may appear to have a hearing problem.
Articles
Much has been published on CAPD. A few examples:
- Parent News, a publication of the National Parent Information Network, in its September-October 1999 edition, published the article Central Auditory Processing Disorder and School Performance. This article discusses different types of auditory processing problems.
- Coping with Central Auditory Processing Disorder - Long, helpful article from Kidshealth.org.
- Living and Working with a Central Auditory Processing Disorder - This article is oriented towards adults with CAPD, and has advice for them on how to manage it on the job.
Help for CAPD
Sources of help and treatment are available.
- Center for Central Auditory Research - This research program at the Colorado State University's College of Engineering "explores diagnostic and management techniques" for CAPD.
- The Educational Audiology Association has a video and brochure on CAPD, from the American Guild of Central Auditory Processing Disorders.
CAPD Discussion
There are at least a few discussion lists devoted to CAPD:
- CAPD List - This list has a web archive (login required).
- Yahoo Groups: Auditory Processing - This list has publicly available archives.
Additional Resources
People who want to learn even more about CAPD may wish to try exploring the following link-rich page on central auditory processing disorder.
