Better Hearing and Speech Month: Audiology

As Better Hearing & Speech Month continues, learn more about Audiology Coordinator Gayle Flood’s work at FC.

Spring into Action: Central Auditory Processing Disorder Following Concussion

Spring has arrived!  With spring comes outdoor fun; kids playing on the playground, biking, and outdoor sports.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, playing on a playground and riding a bicycle are two of the top five causes of traumatic brain injuries and concussions in children, coming in only behind football and basketball during the spring and summer months.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. The severity can range from mild (commonly called a concussion, with a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury) and may impact many areas such as memory and reasoning, sensation, communication, and emotion.

After a head injury or concussion, people often notice a change in their ability to understand and communicate. This is often a sign of an acquired auditory processing disorder.  It has been estimated that over 50% of individuals with traumatic brain injury may have an auditory processing disorder (Musiek et al 2004). Even minor head injuries can cause damage to the central auditory nervous system. Central auditory processing difficulties cannot be diagnosed through imaging and do not show up on a hearing evaluation (as hearing sensitivity is typically normal), as a result physicians may fail to detect the damage to the auditory pathways.

Symptoms of APD can range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. If your child has had a head injury or concussion, and you are wondering if your child may have a problem auditory processing, ask yourself:

• Does my child often mishear sounds and words?
• Is my child frequently asking for information to be repeated, saying “what” or “huh”?
• Are noisy environments overwhelming when my child is trying to listen?
• Does my child’s listening behaviors and performance improve in quieter settings?
• Does my child have trouble following verbal directions, whether simple or complicated?
• Does my child have difficulty understanding similar sounding words or sound?
• Does my child have trouble with spelling or phonics?
• Are verbal (word) math problems harder for my child?
• Are conversations harder for my child to follow?
• Does my child have difficulty maintaining auditory attention?

To make an appointment at Franciscan Children’s, or to gain further information, please call 617-779-1374.