Auditory Integration Listening Program

The Auditory Integration Listening Program uses Integrated Listening Systems technologies.

Auditory Integrated Listening Programs can be undertaken as:

	Intense clinically supervised centre based program using the most advanced technologies
	Intense home auditory integration listening programs
	Lite school and home programs based on portable Integrated Listening Systems technologies

For more information on Integrated Listening Systems visit:

The iLs Australian website: www.integratedlistening.com.au

Auditory Processing Disorder

APD is also known by the following names: central auditory processing disorder - CAPD, auditory perceptual processing dysfunction, auditory comprehension deficit, central deafness or word deafness.

Deafness, however, does not play a role in APD. An important distinction with this disorder is that hearing is rarely impaired - that is, the child is able to hear the sounds perfectly but cannot process the meaning of the sound. There is no relationship between intelligence and APD as the disorder reflects a problem with a specific auditory function rather than intellectual capacity. Another feature of the disorder is that it presents itself inconsistently. On some occasions a child may have no processing problems, but other days may struggle to decode the same message.

APD is a problem in the auditory decoding of language, which very often leads to the deterioration of behaviour as a result of poor expressive and receptive communication. As children experience the discouragement of being misunderstood and the frustration of misunderstanding others, they become more disconnected from their environment and the people around them.

Many other conditions in children are made worse by an accompanying auditory processing disorder. Children who have autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, language problems, aphasia or learning disabilities often have concurrent problems with auditory processing. Treatments designed to deal with APD have been shown to have positive implications for these children, supporting the idea that auditory processing is central to behaviour and learning.

The term 'auditory overload' is often used to describe what happens to people who have APD. Auditory overload is a sense of being overwhelmed and relates to features of the information being received. If information is highly specific, spoken quickly, lacking in contextual cues, described in unfamiliar language or presented in a noisy environment, it will be very difficult for someone with APD to comprehend the message or follow through with instructions.

The indicators of Auditory Processing Disorder

Treatment of APD

At the Listen And Learn Centre it is also treated through an Auditory Integration Listening Program.