Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is characterized by the inability to discriminate between similar sounds, figuring out who in a room is speaking and understanding what was said when environmental sounds intrude such as the AC cutting on or a leaf blower outside the window. A child may have difficulty understanding what was said to them because all of the words run together in their brains. This disorder was formerly called Central Processing Disorder (CPD) and is the primary cause of dyslexia. The cause may be hereditary, a dysfunction within the inner ear structure, a hearing loss, or a problem with the hardwiring within the brain itself. Some children can repeat what was said word by word but not understand the concept relayed by the string of words.

APD has been confused with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) because the student is seen as not attending or lazy if they do not respond appropriately to what was said or asked of them. It is easy for them to misinterpret what they heard as they are forced to try to fill in the blanks. APD may also coexist with ADD. The Speech Language Pathologist along with other professionals is usually the primary diagnostician of APD. Teachers can be provided with strategies that will help them make academic success more accessible to children with APD. It is estimated that in a class of 24-30 students one will have APD. Teachers need to learn to speak slower and clearly but not necessarily louder. Repeating directions or have another student repeat the directions so that the child with APD does not feel singled out may work in some cases. The teacher may need to do a visual comprehension check to make sure the student is following directions properly. Demonstrations or modeling a finished product or written directions may be helpful. Students with APD need visual means to understand concepts and should be seated where auditory interference is minimal. The Speech Language Pathologist can educate the family and teachers on how to address the needs of the APD student. Some teachers wear an FM system to make their voices clearer to APD students. The therapist will most likely work with the student to help them develop coping strategies that enable them to make the best guesses of what they've heard. The more families and teachers are educated about APD, the better learning experiences school will provide for children with APD.