auditory sensitivity and auditory processing disorder

Recommendations included reviewing the undergraduate audiology training programmes, reinstituting the South African APD Taskforce, developing linguistically and culturally appropriate normative data, creating awareness among educators and involving them in the multidisciplinary team. Challenges experienced by the participants included the lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate screening and assessment tools and limited normative data. Those participants having qualified as speech-language therapists and audiologists were significantly more prepared ( p = 0.03) to practice than the audiologists who comprised the sample. When the relationship between the number of years of experience and the audiologists’ level of preparedness to practice in the field of APD was compared, a statistically significant difference ( p = 0.049) was seen in that participants with more than 10 years of experience were more prepared to practice in this area. A range of intervention strategies being used are discussed. A variety of screening and assessment procedures were being administered, with no standard test battery identified. Findings revealed that 67% screened for APD, 42% assessed while 43% provided intervention. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive survey was used to obtain data from 156 audiologists registered with the Health Professions of South Africa. The study aimed to describe the practices, challenges and recommendations of South African audiologists managing children with APD. Linguistic and cultural issues are additional challenges faced by South African audiologists.

The heterogeneity of the disorder and its concomitant childhood disorders makes diagnosis difficult. Audiologists managing children with auditory processing disorders (APD) encounter challenges that include conflicting definitions, several classification profiles, problems with differential diagnosis and a lack of standardised guidelines.

Auditory sensitivity and auditory processing disorder