Auditory problems are very common among autistic people, but people who are not autistic suffer from them as well. Auditory problems are overwhelming for the people who suffer from them, but they can be easily missed by those trying to provide help. The auditory problem most people are familiar with is being hard-of-hearing, but people can also be more sensitive to sound than normal. This will cause them to avoid environments most of us tolerate without a problem, such as crowded areas, bathrooms with loud toilets, and restaurants with music playing. Any adult or child with this problem who must avoid such places will lead a severely limited life. The problem of hyperacusis (over-sensitive hearing) is surprisingly debilitating.
Some people have trouble processing sound through their neural pathways. Since our educational system is primarily auditory, this is a substantial disability for a school child. You can read more about Central Auditory Processing Disorder here.
In order to address an auditory problem, the first step is to get a thorough evaluation from an audiologist who is qualified to diagnose Central Auditory Processing Disorder. A good qualified audiologist in Northern California is Judith Paton, about whom you can learn more here. Maxine Young is another highly respected audiologist in Pennsylvania who has expertise on Central Auditory Processing Disorder and who maintains a Yahoo! Group on the subject. Other resources throughout the country can be found by clicking here.
Berard AIT and The Tomatis Method are two therapies which directly impact these types of auditory problems. Berard AIT can effectively treat hyperacusis. I can attest to that–after his AIT treatment, my son began playing with the other kids on the playground in his preschool. So much for the psychologist’s worries! The Tomatis Method is known for healing central auditory processing problems and can also have a significant impact on ADHD and Autism. I have included several books on the subject in the “Books We Like” section.
A newer book which came out in July 2008 is available on auditory processing issues as well, but it is not available at Amazon.com. The following is an excerpt from the author’s website, www.psychdocinfo.com:
“If you or someone you know has (APD), an Auditory Processing Disorder, this book can help you find answers. Until now, there has not been a book that specifically looks at how people with APD have lived and learned to overcome the disorder from childhood into adulthood. This book was written by those people who have lived with APD their entire lives.
“Ever realize that you or someone you know does not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even though the sounds themselves are loud and clear? For example, the request ‘Tell me how a chair and a couch are alike?’ may sound like ‘Tell me how a hair and a cow are alike.’ Or how the constant low tapping or clicking noise can drown out the hearing of a louder conversation, causing certain words not to be heard? These kinds of problems are experienced day in and day out by people suffering from a learning disability known as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). It is not that the person with APD is not paying attention, as many people assume, it is in fact that they are in a noisy environment or listening to complex information. Don’t You Get It? is a unique, comprehensive book written by people who have had to live with APD and learn how to learn, grow and survive daily with it. People with Auditory Processing difficulty typically have normal hearing and intelligence. However, they have also been observed to:
. Have problems carrying out multi-step directions.
· Need more time to process information.
· Have problems with their relationships or peers.
· Have difficulty with vocabulary, reading, comprehension, spelling, and understanding language or directional tasks.
· Mimic symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder, causing misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
“Don’t You Get It? Specifically looks at people over three generations of the same family and others as well , who have lived with APD. It demonstrates the struggles that these people went through and shows how they worked and overcame their problems in communicating and learning. If you or anyone you know has even a mild case of an Auditory Processing Disorder, then this is the handbook for you!
Distinguished Research Professor, Pace University
Former President, American Psychological Association
-Jack Katz, PhD
Auditory Processing Service, University of Kansas Medical Center
Prairie Village, Kansas , USA”
Our family has experienced substantial success with Berard AIT. In our case, our son had problems with his right brain stem, resulting in auditory processing problems, problems with the left eye turning in (right brain issue), as well as a total absence of creative thinking. Berard AIT helped remove the auditory sensitivities. We also proceeded with vision therapy with Gloria Ginn at the School for Better Eyesight in Los Angeles which helped “turn on” his right brain. Finally, craniosacral work, energy work and especially homeopathy have been very effective in “turning on” right brain activities such as creativity, making up poems on the spot, imagining solutions to problems beyond what he is “stuck” on, etc. In addition to helping hyperacusis and auditory processing issues, our family has also experienced improvements in hearing loss through homeopathy.