The UWSHC has a team of specialists and graduate student clinicians who work together to diagnose and treat central auditory processing disorders (CAPD).
Signs and symptoms of CAPD may include one or more of the following behavioral characteristics*:
- Difficulty localizing sound
- Difficulty understanding spoken language in competing messages, in noisy backgrounds, in reverberant environments, or when presented rapidly
- Taking longer to respond in oral communication situations
- Frequent requests for repetitions, saying “what” and “huh” frequently
- Inconsistent or inappropriate responding
- Difficulty comprehending and following rapid speech
- Difficulty following complex auditory directions or commands
- Difficulty learning songs or nursery rhymes
- Misunderstanding messages, such as detecting prosody changes that help to interpret sarcasm or jokes
- Poor musical and singing skills
- Difficulty paying attention
- Being easily distracted
- Poor performance on speech and language or psychoeducational tests in the areas of auditory-related skills
- Associated reading, spelling, and learning problems
- Difficulty learning a new language
*These characteristics are not exclusive to CAPD and may be present with other disorders.
Before the first visit, patients interested in an evaluation receive a case history form to complete and mail back to the clinic. Criteria for testing include age seven years or older, normal to near-normal hearing, and normal to near normal cognition. UWSHC staff will contact patients to schedule the appointment after reviewing the paperwork. The evaluation includes audiology and speech and language assessments on the same day. Following the appointment, the UWSHC CAPD team meets to discuss results and recommendations. The patients receive a personalized report by mail.
