Auditory Processing is…

… is defined by how well our central nervous system utilizes and interprets auditory information, specifically for the purposes of language. Essentially, we HEAR with our ears; we LISTEN with our brain.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

A central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is a deficit in the neural processing of auditory information. This deficit can lead to difficulties with:

• Communication
• Higher order language learning (such as reading comprehension) 

Common Indicators of CAPD:

• Difficulty understanding verbal information, especially in noisy situations
• Difficulty following multi-step directions, or needs external organization to assist in completing tasks
• Experiences difficulties in areas of reading, spelling, or math calculation skills 
• Poor visual-spatial skills

What To Do?

If you suspect your child may have CAPD, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel like your child has difficulty hearing or understanding what people say?
• Do you feel your child’s hearing or listening difficulties become worse in certain situations?
• Do you feel your child has difficulty with multi-step directions?

If you answered “yes” to the questions above, your child may benefit from an auditory processing evaluation. Merit Hearing evaluates patients age 7 and older who can cooperate with testing and remain seated for the appointment. A recent hearing test is required before scheduling. No physician referral is required.

What families should expect

Auditory processing evaluations are coordinated through our Ankeny office and may take up to two hours. Testing is conducted by telehealth with an audiologist located in Florida while the patient attends the appointment in Ankeny.

The evaluating audiologist is out of network with all insurance plans, so APD testing is self-pay. A deposit is required to reserve the appointment, and the remaining balance is due on the appointment date. Merit Hearing does not submit APD testing claims, but patients may self-submit to their insurance plan to request possible reimbursement.

Please call our Ankeny office to confirm eligibility, provide the recent hearing test, and schedule the evaluation. Current pricing is listed on our audiology service pricing page.

Auditory Processing is…

… is defined by how well our central nervous system utilizes and interprets auditory information, specifically for the purposes of language. Essentially, we HEAR with our ears; we LISTEN with our brain.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

A central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is a deficit in the neural processing of auditory information. This deficit can lead to difficulties with:

• Communication
• Higher order language learning (such as reading comprehension) 

Common Indicators of CAPD:

• Difficulty understanding verbal information, especially in noisy situations
• Difficulty following multi-step directions, or needs external organization to assist in completing tasks
• Experiences difficulties in areas of reading, spelling, or math calculation skills 
• Poor visual-spatial skills

What To Do?

If you suspect your child may have CAPD, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel like your child has difficulty hearing or understanding what people say?
• Do you feel your child’s hearing or listening difficulties become worse in certain situations?
• Do you feel your child has difficulty with multi-step directions?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, your child may benefit from a CAPD evaluation. At the initial CAPD appointment, a licensed audiologist will complete a comprehensive hearing exam, as well as testing to assess central auditory processing abilities. This testing is noninvasive and painless. Patients must be at least 7 years of age for CAPD testing. 

If the results are consistent with a CAPD diagnosis, the audiologist will review treatment options and a follow-up schedule with you. Treatment is conducted at home and takes approximately 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the CAPD treatment, the audiologist will retest the patient’s central auditory processing ability to assess for improvement.