Types of hearing loss
Auditory processing disorder (APD) assessment
Normal hearing on the test, real difficulty making sense of speech in noise.
The short answer
How APD differs from hearing loss
A standard hearing test asks whether sound is audible. APD is not about audibility — it is about what the brain does with the signal once it arrives. That is why a child can have a completely normal audiogram and still be unable to follow the teacher in a classroom of thirty. Parents are frequently told their child’s hearing is fine, which is true and unhelpful at the same time.
Who we assess
Children from around seven years, once the auditory system is mature enough for the tests to be valid, and adults who notice the same pattern.
What the assessment involves
A longer appointment than a standard hearing test. We confirm normal peripheral hearing first, then run a battery of tests examining how well the auditory system handles degraded speech, competing messages in each ear, timing differences. You receive a detailed report with specific, practical recommendations.
Signs of Auditory Processing Difficulties
- Frequently asks for repetition, particularly when there is background noise.
- Finds it challenging to follow spoken instructions, especially when several steps are involved.
- Has difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, such as classrooms, restaurants, social gatherings or workplaces.
- May mishear or confuse words that sound similar.
- Requires additional time or effort to understand and respond to spoken information.
- May find listening for extended periods tiring, particularly in busy environments.
- May have a history of recurrent middle ear infections or fluctuating hearing loss.
- Experiences listening difficulties despite having normal results on a standard hearing test.
Get a clear answer about your hearing
Independent audiology across Andergrove, Walkerston, Moranbah and Clermont.