Non-Drug Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Monica, Venice, South Bay, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and all of Greater Los Angeles
Auditory Processing Disorder can be frustrating, embarrassing, and negatively impact academic or professional performance. If you or someone you know has a hard time hearing or understanding spoken language, they can improve their brain function with neurofeedback training. At Neurozone, we help you retrain your brain and improve your cognitive abilities overall.
At Neurozone, we treat Auditory Processing Disorder with a combination of Speech Therapy and Neurofeedback Therapy. Our custom-tailored neurofeedback therapy protocols directly address the neural activity responsible for the brain’s struggle with auditory information. Neurofeedback Therapy will correct the brain’s function to enable better cognition and communication with others.
To learn more about how neurofeedback training is an highly-effective, medication-free means of correcting neurological disorders like Auditory Processing Disorder, schedule an informative consultation with us today.
Contents
- 1 About Auditory Processing
- 2 What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
- 3 Signs of Auditory Processing Disorder
- 4 Non-Drug Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment
- 5 What is Neurofeedback for Auditory Processing Disorder Like?
- 6 What are the benefits of Non-Drug Neurofeedback Therapy for APD?
- 7 What are the benefits of Speech Therapy for APD?
- 8 Candidates
- 9 FAQS
About Auditory Processing
Auditory Processing refers to our brain’s ability to comprehend spoken sounds quickly and efficiently enough to process speech. The speed at which we take in auditory sounds and the accuracy of what our brain interprets directly impacts our ability to understand spoken language. During auditory integration, the ear takes up sound and delivers that information to the brain, which it then interprets. Once the brain ascertains the information presented to it, it can respond accordingly.
Issues with auditory processing can lead to frustration and difficulty in achieving academic or professional success.
Auditory Processing is a major part of our overall sensory integration, which includes our physical sensations like taste, touch, smell, and the perception of gravity and other forces on our bodies. If the Auditory Processing centers of the brain are not functioning properly, a person may feel out of sync with not only their thoughts but also with the whole world around them.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory processing disorder can make it difficult for students to process both words and ideas, impacting academic performance. Children and teens with APD frequently struggle with reading and writing and have trouble following what their teacher says in class.
This neurologically-based disorder usually stems from issues with the circuits in the auditory cortex of the brain. Neurofeedback training enables us to identify the signals in the brain responsible for the intake and interpretation of auditory information and re-train them, safely and without the use of foreign substances or invasive techniques, to behave in a healthy, beneficial way.
Further Reading on Auditory Processing Disorders
While it is best if auditory processing disorder is treated early while the patient is a child or adolescent, we also have a lot of success in treating auditory processing disorder in adults.
Signs of Auditory Processing Disorder
You or your child may be experiencing Auditory Processing Disorder if they:
- Struggle to follow verbal directions.
- Struggle to read out loud.
- Struggle to organize their thoughts.
- Have a hard time saying the right words. They may get the names of colors wrong, for example.
- Read information but have a hard time understanding the meaning of what they read.
- Experience auditory dyslexia, where the brain processes words or parts of words out of order.
- Have difficulty writing or expressing complex ideas or stories.
- Have trouble with spelling and grammar.
- Are struggling in school.
If your child has reached the third grade and is showing signs of the above, they may have auditory processing disorder. Middle ear issues in early childhood are also an indicator of auditory processing disorder. If you think you or your child are experiencing APD, treatment at Neurozone will improve sensory integration by improving cognitive function, at any age or stage of development.
Non-Drug Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment
Unlike drug-based treatments, neurofeedback therapy addresses the root causes of cognitive issues, instead of only addressing the symptoms.
Neurofeedback training is the foundation of our non-drug based treatments. Neurofeedback training is also known as EEG biofeedback, Neurotherapy, or neurofeedback. During neurofeedback therapy, our QEEG system provides real-time feedback of the electrical activity in the brain. By combining the results of the brain imaging with questionnaires, interviews, or psychometric tests, we can get a comprehensive assessment of the symptoms and neural causes of auditory processing disorder. With this information, we tailor every neurofeedback therapy session, or protocol, to the unique needs of our client’s brain function.
Over the course of 20 neurofeedback sessions, the brain will have an estimated 72,000 opportunities to improve its function and form new, healthy cognitive patterns.
Neurofeedback training achieves long-lasting physiological improvements for both adults and children. We often recommend combining speech therapy with neurofeedback training to address auditory processing disorder. Depending on the needs of the individual, this therapy may include sound differentiation exercises, sequencing routines, and the development of special habits that enable students to absorb more information in a classroom setting.
Neurozone’s Executive Director, Erin Badour, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Licensed Speech Language Pathologist. She pulls on her years of experience to make sure every therapy plan addresses the unique needs of her clients. If you would like to learn more about what neurofeedback training and speech therapy at Neurozone can do for you or your child’s long-term cognitive function, give us a call! We look forward to speaking with you.
What is Neurofeedback for Auditory Processing Disorder Like?
Neurofeedback training is performed by placing one or more electrodes on the scalp and/or by the earlobes. During a neurofeedback session, the patient will engage with an audio-visual feedback system. This may involve watching a movie, playing a game, or other stimulating activities. Every half second, the EEG system will record real-time information of the brain’s activity.
The system will present positive or negative reinforcement, based on whether specific goals of the session are met.
Based on this real-time information, the neurofeedback system creates a guided-learning feedback loop. Every subsequent session will adapt to the needs of the patient’s brain in that moment. With time, the brain will begin adopting the desired patterns and start processing auditory information more effectively.
What are the benefits of Non-Drug Neurofeedback Therapy for APD?
- Improve brain function for the long-term
- Improve academic performance
- Improve your ability to process information and express ideas
- Enable you to say words and understand their meaning
- Allow you to focus and take in information, even in the face of distractions
- Address the cause of your neural disorder, not just the symptoms
- Adapt to your specific needs for every treatment
- Is often enjoyable to undergo
- Not subject you to risks or negative side effects
Neurofeedback Training is also shown to be a highly effective form of sensory integration therapy.
What are the benefits of Speech Therapy for APD?
Speech therapy at Neurozone is a fun, positive experience and we offer a wide variety of engaging exercises that will:
- Improve your or your child’s listening skills.
- Improve your or your child’s ability to perceive the units of sound, or phonemes, that make up words.
- Restore comfort with and confidence in speaking in social settings.
Speech and auditory therapy have shown to be highly effective when treating for Auditory Processing Disorder.
Candidates
Do you think you or someone you know has auditory processing disorder? Children, teens, and adults who are struggling to hear spoken words or understand their meanings should reach out to a therapist who can identify the causes of their disorder and identify the proper solutions. Difficulty understanding complex concepts, answering questions, or giving or following directions are all indicators of auditory processing disorder. If your child is frustrated in school or your toddler is showing symptoms of sensory issues, they may be struggling with an APD.
Candidates who are having difficulty with reading comprehension, spelling, or using the right words for things are invited to schedule a consultation at Neurozone today.
FAQS
Is auditory processing disorder considered a learning disability?
Because auditory processing disorder is neurologically-based, it is considered a learning disability. Therapy and proper treatment can restore healthy sensory processing. The earlier auditory processing disorder is addressed, the better the developmental outcomes will be.
Is auditory processing disorder curable?
Auditory processing disorder is curable! Neurofeedback training is a highly valuable treatment tool, as it will address the root causes of the processing disorder and re-train the brain to process auditory information accurately and more quickly. We recommend early treatment to see the best results.
Is auditory processing disorder autism?
While auditory processing disorder is not a diagnosis of autism, children with autism frequently experience auditory processing issues. Parents of autistic children are invited to reach out to Neurozone to learn more about how we use neurofeedback therapy to improve cognitive function for both autistic individuals and individuals with an auditory processing disorder.
What are the causes of auditory processing disorder?
Auditory processing disorder can result from genetics or head injury. Auditory processing disorder in children may result from premature birth, meningitis, or chronic ear infections. APD in adults may be a sign of a brain tumor or unidentified hearing loss. APD has also shown to develop in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
