Connecting APD services to tamariki in South Auckland

Audiologist Joanna Wallace was awarded a TSB GoodStuff! grant to trial a tele-audiology service to children in South Auckland suspected of having APD but unable to access specialist APD services. Resource Teachers for Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs) referred children, and…Read More

Listen to a simulation of auditory processing disorder

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a general term for hearing disorders in which the ears process sound normally but the hearing centres and circuits of the brain don’t always process incoming information sufficiently quickly or accurately. APD is not detected…Read More

Auditory processing definition disorder

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is an “umbrella” term covering a variety of central auditory processing deficits. APD is listed as a disorder in the WHO International Classification of Diseases, editions ICD10 and ICD11. However some academics promote an alternative terminology,…Read More

APD features in Māori TV News item

Follow the story of seven year old Poi, whose learning difficulties were attributed by her school to her being bilingual in Te Reo and English, before she was found to have auditory processing disorder (APD). The news item discusses the…Read More

Another Award for APD expert Professor Suzanne Purdy

Professor Suzanne Purdy was awarded the honour of Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The award was for “services to audiology and communication science”. This comes shortly after receiving the…Read More

Congratulations Professor Suzanne Purdy

The team at SoundSkills congratulates our friend, colleague and APD research collaborator, Dr Suzanne Purdy from the University of Auckland, who has been awarded the American Academy of Audiology International Award for Hearing for 2021 to acknowledge her significant contribution to audiology internationally….Read More

Conferences and seminars in 2020

2020 was a promising year for participation at conferences with sessions on auditory processing disorder (APD), until a world pandemic resulted in the cancellation of most conferences internationally. Dr Bill Keith, Director of SoundSkills, was planning to report APD research…Read More

Detection and Treatment of APD in Children under 5

Early intervention is a key tenet in audiology, except when it comes to Auditory Processing Disorder. This case study report argues that early intervention, with appropriate cautions, is also possible for children with APD. Dr Bill Keith is Director of…Read More

Age of Diagnosis for APD

It is well established that early intervention for hearing and learning disorders is critical if the effectiveness of treatment is to be maximised. This applies to auditory processing disorder (APD) just as much as to any other type of deafness….Read More

Auditory Processing Disorder: Strategies for the Classroom

This is a helpful checklist if you’re a teacher working with APD in the classroom. Classroom Environment: Preferential seating Within 2m of teacher (unless wearing remote microphone hearing aids) Seated away from auditory distractions such as doorways or air conditioners…Read More

Hearing Disorder Makes School a Struggle

At least one child in every New Zealand classroom is believed to have a hearing problem that can seriously affect their ability to learn. Auditory processing disorder (APD) is believed to affect from three to 15 per cent of children…Read More

Hidden Learning Disability Affecting Kiwi Kids

There is at least one child per classroom in New Zealand struggling with auditory processing difficulties and many teachers and parents are not aware of the serious impact this could have on a childs learning. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is…Read More

In the News: APD, hearing but not understanding

If you know a child who has difficulty understanding verbal instructions and who struggles with reading and spelling, they could have an auditory processing disorder. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a hearing disorder in which the ears process sound normally…Read More

In the News: Promising treatments for APD

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is the most neglected and under diagnosed area of hearing services in NZ according to Dr Bill Keith, audiologist of specialist APD clinic SoundSkills. Under diagnosis is compounded by false reassurance to conscientious parents who seek…Read More

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), and (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder ((C)APD) have similar meanings and are used interchangeably. APD is the most commonly used term in New Zealand.