Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPDs) in Children

INTRODUCTION
In the last decade, there has been a push for the early diagnosis and treatment of learning disorders. Now, we’ve all heard of disorders like ADHD and dyslexia, but what about the kids who struggle in the classroom, but have no issues reading, writing or concentrating? Sometimes, children simply don’t hear like the rest of us. These children are affected by central auditory processing disorders, or CAPDs. CAPDs affect how a child interprets and understands what they hear. CAPDS are often hard to diagnose, but when symptoms are recognized, the necessary tests can be performed, and the disorder can be treated.

Subject Sentence: Central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) affect how a child interprets and understands what they hear.

Connective: First,

BODY
I. Children with CAPDs are not hearing impaired. According to the American Academy of Audiology, CAPDs affect the way the brain processes auditory information.
A. Problems with how the sound is interpreted, not in how well they hear
B. Get similar words and sounds mixed up

Connective: Second,

II. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s CAPD task force states that CAPDs can cause problems with sound localization, auditory discrimination, auditory pattern recognition and auditory performance.
A. Don’t know where a sound came from, can’t distinguish between similar sounds, can’t perceive speech when there are other sounds around them
B. Have trouble with loud environments, like the classroom

Connective: Third,

III. Children with CAPDs have trouble understanding verbal directions
A. Do fine with written directions
B. Trouble understanding leads to poor academic performance
C. Often misdiagnosed as ADHD—listening difficulties often attributed to inattentiveness

Connective: Fourth,

IV. Not much is known about the causes of CAPD.
A. Can be acquired as a result of an injury, but very rare
B. Most cases are developmental—caused by severe ear infections early in life that disrupt ear development

Connective: Next,

V. According to the CAPD Handbook, CAPD occurs in twice as many males as it does in females.

Connective: Also,

VI. CAPDs can be very difficult to diagnose.
A. Hard to recognize a problem with listening in traditional classroom
B. Often goes undiagnosed and untreated

Connective: However,

VII. When the problem is recognized as a hearing one, there are certain tests that can be performed.
A. Most are verbal, measure how different words/phrases are processed
B. Recent push for tests that measure processing of non-speech sounds

Connective: Last,

VIII. Once CAPD has been diagnosed, the general recommendation is remedial training.
A. Treating the problems of speech can help with the central, auditory problems
B. Combination of speech therapy and remedial training shown to be most effective

Connective: In conclusion,

CONCLUSION
Researchers are confident that advancements in technology and medicine will lead to a better understanding of CAPD. Hopefully, we will be able to better understand CAPD, its causes and its symptoms, and ultimately be able to better treat children with the disorder.