• image
    Help for

    Parents

    Does your child sometimes have trouble understanding spoken information? Have tests shown her “hearing is fine” yet she is not reaching her learning potential? Can’t quite put your finger on the problem? It may be a hearing disorder. The SoundSkills team of experts can diagnose and treat Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). We can help children with APD hear and learn. Read more

    Help for 

    Health Professionals

    Often misdiagnosed as dyslexia or other learning disability, APD requires specialised testing, assessment and individual treatment. We provide advanced diagnostic and treatment services to assist you with patients with APD. Treatment includes: auditory training therapy, language therapy, assistive listening devices and remote microphone hearing aids. Read more

    Help for

    Education Professionals

    Does a child in your classroom have difficulty comprehending and retaining auditory instructions, become easily distracted or even disruptive, struggle with spelling and reading? Our Education Adviser can work with you on optimal teaching strategies, IEPs, and trial and use of assistive listening equipment such as RM hearing aids. We can help your students achieve their best. Read more

  • When the brain doesn't hear

    Children with APD find it challenging to take in the spoken message and make it meaningful. This problem with interpreting and recalling messages leads to problems in learning.

    Find out more

  • Hearing skills for sound learning

    SoundSkills is a specialist multi-disciplinary diagnostic and treatment service for children and adults with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a hearing problem which occurs not in the ears but in the hearing pathways or hearing centres of the brain. The ears may process sound normally, and the person may pass ordinary hearing tests, but the brain has difficulty interpreting what is heard. This type of hearing loss adversely affects understanding, especially in difficult listening situations such as when there is other distracting sound present, or when listening to complex information or instructions. As a result learning is usually affected.

APD may occur in conjunction with other disorders such as:

  • Dyslexia
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

APD often causes or is associated with:

  • Phonological awareness problems
  • Language disorder
  • Reading disorder

More Information

SoundSkills is a specialist APD clinic staffed by a team of APD experts in audiological diagnostic assessment, speech-language diagnostic assessment, and treatment of auditory disorders drawn from the professions of audiology, speech language therapy and special education.

SoundSkills was established by audiologist Dr Bill Keith to provide improved APD services in this neglected and under-funded area of hearing services.

More Information

SoundSkills specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of APD, providing the support of a multi-disciplinary team of experts. Our qualified professionals in audiology, speech-language therapy and special education are all on-site and able to provide the full range of services required to effectively diagnose and manage APD, from informational counselling for the child, family and teachers, to auditory training and language therapy and fitting of remote microphone hearing-aids.

We also carry out school visits to involve schools and teachers in APD management. We work as an expert team to provide the best possible outcome, support and care for APD. Our methods are based on sound scientific research, adapted to suit each individual. APD diagnosis and treatment is our focus, so our clients can be assured of the care of the most comprehensive and specialised APD team in New Zealand. We can provide referral for other assessment as required.

SoundSkills is one of few such specialist APD clinics world-wide. Through our close links with universities in New Zealand and overseas we keep up with the latest scientific research in APD from around the world ensuring that our diagnosis and treatment services are evidence-based and cutting edge.

More Information
A Recent

Thank You

"SoundSkills have been involved with our son's auditory processing disorder since February 2010. Their staff have been very professional and diligent, and due to their assistance, his performance at school appears to be improving. SoundSkills have been very generous with a lengthy trial period and advice for the audio device which we now lease and we believe helping our boy is SoundSkills' highest priority.

Kind regards,

G & D B."

Recent News & Information

Events & Seminars

Seminar on Auditory Processing Disorders: Contemporary Theory and Practice09-Jun-2012

Date: 9 - 11 June 2012

Venue: La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria

 

Keynote speaker Professor Frank Musiek, Director of Auditory Research, Professor of Audiology and Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Connecticut, USA is a world leader in the field of auditory processing disorders.  Prof Musiek returns to Australia to address this seminar, which will be open to both members and non-members of AAAPP.  In addition to Professor Musiek's keynote addresses, leaders in the field of auditory processing from Australia and New Zealand have been invited to participate.

Colleagues in related disciplines with an interest in auditory processing are welcome to join AAAPP for an in depth and relevant seminar.

 

For more information, please visit the seminar page »

Or you can email the Executive Officer, Dr. Louise Collingridge at exec@aaapp.org.au


Free APD seminar13-Jun-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


Free APD seminar19-Jul-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


Free APD seminar15-Aug-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


Free APD seminar13-Sep-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


SPELD NZ 2012 Conference and Annual General Meeting05-Oct-2012

Theme: Learning for Living: Living for Learning

Date: 5-7 October 2012

Venue: Palmerston North Convention Centre, Palmerston North

 

The focus is to assist young people and adults in gaining learning skills (learning for living) assisted by committed and dedicated professionals; SPELD teachers and assessors (living for learning).

This year’s conference will have opportunities for students, parents, SPELD professionals and classroom teachers to develop skills and understanding to assist our SLD learners throughout their lives.

Our speakers will provide hands on opportunities for those working with SPELD students to improve their skills and understanding of the needs of SLD. 

 

For programme and registration details, please visit the conference page »


Free APD seminar17-Oct-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


Free APD seminar14-Nov-2012

Learn more about Auditory Processing Disorder!

Come to a free seminar on Auditory Processing Disorder to learn more about APD and ask questions from our team, like:

  • What is APD?
  • What are the symptoms and effects?
  • How is it diagnosed?
  • Where can I go for help?
  • What does it cost?
  • What funding assistance is available?

Registration

email: info@soundskills.co.nz
phone: (09) 524-7074

Time

7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue

The Parenting Place
300 Great South Road
Greenlane, Auckland
 


More Events & Seminars