Zaburzenie przetwarzania słuchowego
Etiologia i przyczyny

Zaburzenie przetwarzania słuchowego (APD) charakteryzuje się deficytami w centralnym przetwarzaniu informacji dźwiękowych mimo prawidłowego słuchu peryferyjnego. Etiologia APD jest wieloczynnikowa i obejmuje zarówno czynniki genetyczne, jak i nabyte uszkodzenia ośrodkowego układu nerwowego, takie jak urazy głowy, udary, choroby neurodegeneracyjne (np. stwardnienie rozsiane, choroba Alzheimera), padaczka, infekcje mózgu oraz czynniki prenatalne i okołoporodowe (np. niedotlenienie, niska masa urodzeniowa, wcześniactwo, hiperbilirubinemia). Dodatkowo, przewlekłe zapalenia ucha środkowego w dzieciństwie, ekspozycja na neurotoksyny (np. ołów, metale ciężkie), palenie papierosów w ciąży oraz proces starzenia się mogą przyczyniać się do rozwoju APD. Zaburzenie to często współwystępuje z ADHD, dysleksją, zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu oraz deficytami językowymi, jednak stanowi odrębną jednostkę kliniczną, niezależną od globalnych deficytów poznawczych czy intelektualnych.

Etiologia zaburzenia przetwarzania słuchowego (APD)

Zaburzenie przetwarzania słuchowego (APD, ang. Auditory Processing Disorder) to stan, w którym mózg ma trudności z interpretacją i przetwarzaniem dźwięków, pomimo prawidłowego słuchu. APD wpływa na zdolność mózgu do analizowania lub interpretowania informacji dźwiękowych, szczególnie mowy, co powoduje trudności w rozumieniu i reagowaniu na dźwięki w otoczeniu.12

Dokładna etiologia zaburzenia przetwarzania słuchowego często pozostaje nieznana, szczególnie u dzieci. W wielu przypadkach trudno jest wskazać jedną konkretną przyczynę. Badania sugerują, że APD może być wynikiem wielu czynników lub kombinacji czynników wpływających na centralny układ nerwowy i przetwarzanie dźwięków.12

Czynniki genetyczne i dziedziczne

Istnieją dowody sugerujące, że czynniki genetyczne mogą odgrywać rolę w rozwoju APD. Badania wykazały zwiększoną częstość występowania APD w rodzinach z historią zaburzeń słuchu, co wskazuje na możliwy czynnik dziedziczny.12

  • Występowanie APD często obserwuje się u osób, których rodzice mieli podobne trudności w dzieciństwie1
  • W niektórych rodzinach z autosomalnie dominującą padaczką, napady dotykające lewego płata skroniowego wydają się powodować problemy z przetwarzaniem słuchowym1
  • Według niektórych badaczy, najczęstszą przyczyną APD są czynniki genetyczne, co oznacza, że zaburzenie mogło zostać odziedziczone1

Urazowe uszkodzenia mózgu i choroby neurologiczne

Nabyte APD może być spowodowane uszkodzeniem lub dysfunkcją ośrodkowego układu nerwowego, co prowadzi do problemów z przetwarzaniem słuchowym.12

  • Urazy głowy – wstrząśnienia mózgu lub poważniejsze traumatyczne uszkodzenia mózgu (TBI) mogą wpłynąć na ośrodki słuchowe w mózgu12
  • Udary mózgu – mogą uszkodzić obszary mózgu odpowiedzialne za przetwarzanie słuchowe12
  • Choroby neurodegeneracyjne – takie jak stwardnienie rozsiane (SM) czy choroba Alzheimera mogą prowadzić do APD12
  • Padaczka – napady padaczkowe mogą wpływać na przetwarzanie słuchowe1
  • Guzy lub zmiany dotyczące ośrodkowego układu nerwowego1
  • Zapalenie opon mózgowych – infekcje obejmujące mózg mogą prowadzić do uszkodzeń wpływających na przetwarzanie słuchowe1

Czynniki prenatalne i perinatalne

Różne czynniki związane z okresem ciąży i porodu mogą zwiększać ryzyko rozwoju APD u dzieci.12

  • Niedotlenienie (anoksja/hipoksja) – niedostateczne dotlenienie mózgu podczas ciąży lub porodu12
  • Niska masa urodzeniowa – dzieci urodzone z niską masą ciała mogą być bardziej narażone na rozwój APD12
  • Wcześniactwo – może powodować opóźnienia w rozwoju ośrodkowego układu nerwowego słuchowego12
  • Hiperbilirubinemia (żółtaczka) – podwyższony poziom bilirubiny we krwi może mieć wpływ na rozwój układu słuchowego12
  • Narażenie na leki w okresie prenatalnym1
  • Zakażenie cytomegalowirusem1
  • Traumatyczny poród – przedłużający się poród, użycie kleszczy, utknięcie w kanale rodnym1
  • Cukrzyca ciążowa1

Nawracające infekcje ucha środkowego

Chroniczne lub nawracające zapalenia ucha środkowego (zapalenie ucha środkowego z wysiękiem) są często wskazywane jako potencjalny czynnik ryzyka APD, szczególnie gdy występują we wczesnym dzieciństwie.12

  • Gdy ucho środkowe wypełnione jest płynem, mowa często brzmi przytłumiona i zniekształcona, co prowadzi do niedokładnego kodowania dźwięków mowy1
  • Może to powodować długotrwałe skutki dla rozwoju słuchowego, ponieważ prowadzi do przeprogramowania części mózgu przetwarzających dźwięki1
  • W latach 80. i 90. istniało znaczne zainteresowanie rolą przewlekłego zapalenia ucha środkowego w powodowaniu APD i powiązanych problemów językowych i czytelniczych1
  • Badacze sugerują, że u niektórych dzieci, które miały liczne infekcje ucha w dzieciństwie, mózg może być okablowany nieco inaczej, co powoduje mniej efektywne przekazywanie sygnałów między komórkami1

Narażenie na substancje toksyczne

Ekspozycja na różne toksyny, szczególnie we wczesnym dzieciństwie, może przyczyniać się do rozwoju APD.12

  • Zatrucie ołowiem – narażenie na ołów we wczesnym dzieciństwie zostało powiązane z APD12
  • Palenie papierosów podczas ciąży – badania wskazują na związek między paleniem przez matkę w czasie ciąży a ryzykiem APD u dziecka1
  • Neurotoksyny – w tym metale ciężkie1
  • Niektóre antybiotyki mogą przyczyniać się do rozwoju nabytego APD1

Zmiany związane z wiekiem

U osób dorosłych, szczególnie starszych, APD może rozwinąć się w wyniku zmian związanych z procesem starzenia się.12

  • Zmiany związane z wiekiem i degeneracja ośrodkowego układu nerwowego słuchowego (CANS) mogą powodować APD u dorosłych1
  • Degeneracja CANS najczęściej związana jest ze zmianami związanymi z wiekiem1
  • Choroba Alzheimera, związana z utratą struktury i funkcji komórek mózgowych, może przyczyniać się do rozwoju APD1

Współistnienie z innymi zaburzeniami

APD często współwystępuje z innymi zaburzeniami, choć ważne jest rozróżnienie między samym APD a innymi stanami o podobnych objawach.12

Należy jednak podkreślić, że APD jest zaburzeniem słuchowym, które nie jest wynikiem wyższego rzędu, bardziej globalnego deficytu, takiego jak autyzm, niepełnosprawność intelektualna, deficyt uwagi lub podobne upośledzenia.1

Inne potencjalne czynniki

Badacze zidentyfikowali również inne możliwe przyczyny lub czynniki przyczyniające się do rozwoju APD:12

  • Wyjątkowo wysoka gorączka (powyżej 40,5°C) u bardzo małego dziecka1
  • Choroby układu krążenia – mogą wpływać na układ słuchowy1
  • Nieefektywny międzypółkulowy transfer informacji i nieprecyzyjną synchronizację neuronalną – sugerowane jako możliwe przyczyny APD1
  • Nieleczona lub nieodpowiednio leczona utrata słuchu – brak lub zniekształcony wkład słuchowy może zmniejszyć lub zniekształcić dane wejściowe, które mózg otrzymuje, co może prowadzić do atrofii neuronalnej lub reorganizacji neuronalnej1
  • Reakcja na szczepionkę DTaP – wymieniana przez niektórych badaczy jako potencjalna przyczyna1
  • Choroba Lyme1

Lokalizacja uszkodzeń w układzie słuchowym

Zaburzenie przetwarzania słuchowego dotyczy specyficznych obszarów mózgu odpowiedzialnych za przetwarzanie dźwięku i może być związane z różnymi typami deficytów w zależności od lokalizacji uszkodzenia.12

APD może być rezultatem uszkodzeń w ośrodkowym układzie słuchowym, takich jak udary i inne etiologie neurologiczne. Lokalizacja uszkodzenia w ośrodkowym układzie nerwowym słuchowym może pomóc klinicystom zidentyfikować, jakie przetwarzanie słuchowe jest zaburzone.1

Chociaż główną charakterystyką APD jest zaburzenie centralne, obserwacje wykazały, że upośledzenie słuchu ślimakowego (tj. peryferyjnego upośledzenia słuchu) może również pogarszać wydajność słuchową.1

Rozwój centralnego układu słuchowego

Słuch zaczyna się w życiu płodowym, ale centralny układ słuchowy nadal rozwija się przez co najmniej pierwszą dekadę po urodzeniu.1 Istnieje znaczne zainteresowanie ideą, że zakłócenie słuchu w okresie wrażliwym może mieć długoterminowe konsekwencje dla rozwoju słuchowego.1

Obszary mózgu odpowiedzialne za zdolności przetwarzania słuchowego stale rosną i rozwijają się przez całe dzieciństwo, aż do około 13 roku życia, kiedy układ słuchowy jest uważany za bardziej dojrzały i dorosły.1 Z powodu tego stopniowego dojrzewania, możliwe jest, że dziecko, u którego zdiagnozowano APD przed 13 rokiem życia, mogłoby z niego „wyrosnąć”.1

U niektórych uczniów, gdy język staje się bardziej złożony i mniej dosłowny, subtelne aspekty przetwarzania słuchowego, takie jak nierozumienie sarkazmu z powodu niemożności rozróżnienia subtelnych różnic w tonie głosu, mogą stać się bardziej widoczne w miarę postępu w szkole.1

Komponenty przetwarzania słuchowego

Dzieci z APD mogą mieć trudności z jednym lub wieloma z następujących komponentów:1

  • Słuchowa figura-tło: zdolność do przetwarzania mowy w obecności szumu tła
  • Filtrowane słowa: zdolność do przetwarzania zniekształconej mowy; dzieci z tą trudnością nie przetwarzają dokładnie języka werbalnego, gdy mówca jest odwrócony lub nie mówi wyraźnie; może to spowolnić przetwarzanie i wpłynąć na zrozumienie
  • Zdania skompresowane w czasie (TCS): zdolność do przetwarzania mowy o szybkim tempie
  • Słuchanie dychotyczne: zdolność do przetwarzania konkurujących sygnałów mowy dochodzących przez różne uszy; jest to wskaźnik efektywności przekraczania sygnałów neurologicznych przez ciało modzelowate, łączące dwie półkule mózgu

Przewaga ucha (EA) to różnica w zdolności przetwarzania między prawym a lewym uchem. Przewaga ucha dostarcza informacji o neuro-maturacyjnym rozwoju układu słuchowego. Przewaga lewego ucha jest poważniejszym zjawiskiem, ponieważ może wskazywać na słabą lokalizację funkcji półkulowej lub funkcję prawej półkuli, co może być zgodne z problemami językowymi i/lub czytelniczymi.1

Implikacje dla diagnostyki i leczenia

Zrozumienie złożonej etiologii APD ma istotne znaczenie dla dokładnej diagnozy i skutecznego leczenia.12

APD nie można zdiagnozować na podstawie listy kontrolnej objawów. Bez względu na to, ile objawów APD może mieć dziecko, tylko staranna i dokładna diagnostyka może określić podstawową przyczynę.1

Aby zdiagnozować APD, audiolog przeprowadza serię testów w pomieszczeniu o kontrolowanym poziomie dźwięku. Po postawieniu diagnozy APD określa się charakter zaburzenia.1

Istnieje wiele rodzajów deficytów przetwarzania słuchowego i, ponieważ każde dziecko jest indywidualne, APD może przejawiać się na różne sposoby. Dlatego konieczne jest określenie rodzaju deficytu słuchowego, jaki wykazuje dane dziecko, aby można było zalecić zindywidualizowane działania zarządzające i terapeutyczne, które odnoszą się do jego konkretnych obszarów trudności.1

Leczenie APD musi być wysoce zindywidualizowane i specyficzne dla deficytu. Rodzaj, częstotliwość i intensywność terapii, podobnie jak wszystkie aspekty interwencji APD, powinny być wysoce zindywidualizowane i zaprogramowane dla konkretnego rodzaju zaburzenia słuchowego, które występuje.1

Stopnia, w jakim deficyty słuchowe danego dziecka poprawią się dzięki terapii, nie można określić z góry. Tak więc, gdy podróż jest prowadzona ostrożnie, dokładnie i odpowiednio, może być światło na końcu tunelu dla milionów dzieci dotkniętych APD.1

APD jest zaburzeniem słuchowym, które nie jest wynikiem wyższego rzędu, bardziej globalnego deficytu, takiego jak autyzm, niepełnosprawność intelektualna, deficyt uwagi lub podobne upośledzenia. Nie wszystkie deficyty uczenia się, języka i komunikacji są spowodowane APD.1

Chociaż podejście multidyscyplinarnego zespołu jest ważne w pełnym zrozumieniu klastra problemów związanych z APD, diagnoza APD może być postawiona tylko przez audiologa. Leczenie APD jest wysoce zindywidualizowane. Nie ma jednego podejścia terapeutycznego, które byłoby odpowiednie dla wszystkich dzieci z APD.1

Potrzeba dalszych badań

Potrzebne są badania nad etiologią APD, aby odróżnić APD od innych patologii dziecięcych, które mogłyby prowadzić do słabych wyników w zadaniach centralnego przetwarzania słuchowego.1

Ograniczone dowody na APD jako odrębną jednostkę patofizjologiczną, brak dowodów na ustalone kryteria i dobrze zwalidowane instrumenty do diagnozowania APD i niezawodnego odróżnienia go od innych stanów wpływających na słuchanie i/lub rozumienie języka mówionego, oraz brak dowodów z dobrze zaprojektowanych badań klinicznych dowodzących skuteczności interwencji dla leczenia APD, wskazują na potrzebę dalszych badań w tej dziedzinie.1

Częste współwystępowanie APD z innymi zaburzeniami wpływającymi na słuchanie i/lub rozumienie języka mówionego sugeruje, że APD może nie być w rzeczywistości odrębną jednostką kliniczną.1

Podczas gdy przyczyna APD pozostaje niezidentyfikowana u większości dzieci zdiagnozowanych z tym zaburzeniem, istnieją solidne dowody na różne czynniki ryzyka i potencjalne przyczyny, które wymagają dalszych badań, aby lepiej zrozumieć i leczyć to złożone zaburzenie.1

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  1. 10.04.2026
  2. www.leksykon.com.pl

Materiały źródłowe

  • #1 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: A Narrative Review
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10634468/
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is defined as difficulty in listening despite possessing hearing thresholds within the normal limit. […] The cause of APD remains unidentified in most children diagnosed with the disorder. While some causes of APD have been theorized, there is limited literature available to provide definitive evidence. Inefficient interhemispheric information transfer and imprecise neural synchrony have been suggested as possible causes of APD. […] Cigarette smoking during pregnancy, ingestion of lead in early childhood, and otitis media (OM) with effusion before the age of 2 years have also been found to cause APD. […] Although each of the aforementioned reported factors may be linked to APD, other factors, such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities, should also be considered.
  • #1
    https://journals.lww.com/sjmm/fulltext/2023/11040/understanding_auditory_processing_disorder__a.2.aspx
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is defined as difficulty in listening despite possessing hearing thresholds within the normal limit. […] The cause of APD remains unidentified in most children diagnosed with the disorder. While some causes of APD have been theorized, there is limited literature available to provide definitive evidence. Inefficient interhemispheric information transfer and imprecise neural synchrony have been suggested as possible causes of APD. […] Cigarette smoking during pregnancy, ingestion of lead in early childhood, and otitis media (OM) with effusion before the age of 2 years have also been found to cause APD. […] Although each of the aforementioned reported factors may be linked to APD, other factors, such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities, should also be considered.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_processing_disorder
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the way the brain processes sounds. […] It is thought that these difficulties arise from dysfunction in the central nervous system. […] Acquired APD can be caused by any damage to, or dysfunction of, the central auditory nervous system and can cause auditory processing problems. […] Some studies have indicated an increased prevalence of a family history of hearing impairment in these patients. […] Inheritance of auditory processing disorder refers to whether an individual inherits the condition from their parents, or whether it runs in families. […] In the majority of cases of developmental APD, the cause is unknown. […] In one family with autosomal dominant epilepsy, seizures which affected the left temporal lobe seemed to cause problems with auditory processing.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder | Great Ormond Street Hospital
    https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information-0/auditory-processing-disorder/
    Auditory process disorder (APD) affects how the brain interprets sound rather than how sound is carried through the ear to the brain. […] Doctors do not really know what causes auditory processing disorder (APD) but research is ongoing to understand more about it. […] There may be a genetic component to it, as parents sometimes report having had similar problems to their children when they were young. It may also be caused by the brain being wired slightly differently in some children who had lots of ear infections in childhood so that message signals are passed from cell to cell less effectively than usual. […] Other conditions can affect children alongside APD including dyslexia, attention deficit with or without hyperactivity disorder and speech/language problems.
  • #1 What Causes APD | AuditoryPAT, LLC
    https://www.auditoryprocessingandtherapy.com/what-causes-apd
    There are events that can cause an auditory processing disorder (APD). These events may result in the disruption of a clear and timely message being sent to the brain. The most common cause of APD is genetic, meaning it was inherited. […] Some other possible issues include: oxygen deprivation ( ex: traumatic birth; near drowning; excess cigarette smoking) […] significantly high billirubin levels soon after birth […] head injuries […] chronic middle ear fluid within the first few months of life that resulted in a temporary hearing loss for an extended period of time […] surgical compromise […] viral infections […] chemo treatment (I have seen a few patients who acquired an auditory processing disorder following treatment) […] In most cases, the cause of the APD is not known.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder: Symptoms, causes, and more
    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/auditory-processing-disorder
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is when the brain cannot interpret sounds correctly. […] APD can occur for various reasons, including genetics, disease, or damage to the brain from exposure to toxins. Causes of APD may include: stroke, injury or damage to the brain, such as through meningitis or head trauma, multiple sclerosis or other neurodegenerative disorders, tumors or lesions affecting the central nervous system, seizures or epilepsy, heavy metal poisoning, chronic ear infections, developmental delays. […] In adults, age-related changes and degeneration of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) can cause APD. […] In some cases, there is no known cause for APD.
  • #1 Central Auditory Processing Disorder – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587357/
    CAPD can be difficult to diagnose, given its broad etiology. Generally, it is linked to a specific lesion or disorder, but the cause may be unknown. There are several leading causes and risk factors for CAPD. […] Degeneration of the CANS […] Most commonly due to age-related changes […] Genetics […] Neurological disease or damage […] Cerebrovascular disorder – eg, stroke […] Brain injury or damage – eg, meningitis or head trauma […] Neurodegenerative disorders – eg, multiple sclerosis […] Lesions or tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) […] Epilepsy […] Neurotoxins – eg, heavy metals […] Otological disease – eg, auditory deprivation as a result of chronic otitis media […] Developmental delay […] Prenatal/neonatal risk factors […] Anoxia […] Hypoxia […] Prematurity […] Drug exposure […] Hyperbilirubinemia […] Cytomegalovirus.
  • #1 Central Auditory Processing Disorder
    https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/central-auditory-processing-disorder/?srsltid=AfmBOorTdwmifBEZ9jSkDOmB1uve8Hd29GEa7Pa_FXXavjuw3B8zzqfq
    The etiology of central auditory processing disorder may be linked to a specific lesion or disorder or may be unknown. Causes and risk factors for central auditory processing disorder may include the following (Bamiou et al., 2001; Baran Musiek, 1999; Chermak Musiek, 2011): […] genetic determinants […] neurological disorder, disease, or damage […] otologic disorder, disease, or injury (e.g., auditory deprivation secondary to recurrent otitis media) […] prenatal/neonatal factors, such as […] anoxia/hypoxia; […] cytomegalovirus; […] hyperbilirubinemia (i.e., buildup of bilirubin in the blood); […] low birth weight; […] prematurity; and […] prenatal drug exposure.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder (APD) // Middlesex Health
    https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/auditory-processing-disorder-apd
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a type of hearing loss caused by something affecting the part of the brain that processes how you hear. […] The cause of auditory processing disorder (APD) is sometimes unknown. APD can be linked to many conditions. In older adults, conditions might include stroke and head trauma. In children, APD can be linked to issues at birth, such as low birth weight or early birth, or repeated ear infections. […] In typical hearing, the brain’s auditory center takes the sound waves sent from the ears and turns them into sounds you know. But with auditory processing disorder (APD), the auditory part of the brain can’t do this.
  • #1 What Causes Auditory Processing Disorder? – Auditory Processing Center
    https://auditorycenter.com/what-is-auditory-processing-disorder/what-causes-auditory-processing-disorder/
    How well sound information is interpreted depends on our level of auditory processing skills which are primarily developed during the critical periods of learning language during the first three years when the brain is most prepared to map information from sounds or spoken words onto its language centers. Although there are many factors often associated with Auditory Processing Disorder, the cause of APD is often unknown. […] Children with a history of frequent ear infections are at a greater risk for APD because speech often sounds muffled and distorted when the middle ear is full of fluid. This results in inaccurate coding of speech sounds. It can often cause long term effects on auditory development because it leads to rewiring of the parts of the brain that process sounds. […] Prematurity can result in a delay in the development of the central auditory nervous system. […] Extremely high fever (over 105 degrees) as a very young child. […] Traumatic birth (extremely long labor, forceps used, stuck in birth canal, etc.). […] Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice). […] Genetic history. […] Brain injury (Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury/TBI).
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder: APD Signs, Diagnosis & TreatmentFooterLogo
    https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-auditory-processing-disorder/?srsltid=AfmBOop4Rh-dWc41mOtqYBv7qOYXhvJGE-S_QbU5U1Lv9LUAI0WQ-jRd
    Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), refers to a condition that impacts the brain’s ability to filter and interpret sounds. […] APD’s causes are unclear, but the condition is thought to be either: developmental – having to do with delays in the maturation of the central auditory pathway) or acquired (through brain injury, for example). Factors including low birth weight, maternal diabetes, heavy metal exposure, and ear infections may be risk factors for symptoms that present as APD.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder – Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_processing_disorder
    Hearing begins in utero, but the central auditory system continues to develop for at least the first decade after birth. […] There is considerable interest in the idea that disruption to hearing during a sensitive period may have long-term consequences for auditory development. […] In the 1980s and 1990s, there was considerable interest in the role of chronic otitis media (also called middle ear disease or „glue ear”) in causing APD and related language and literacy problems. […] It seems that somatic anxiety (that is, physical symptoms of anxiety such as butterflies in the stomach or cotton mouth) and situations of stress may be determinants of speech-hearing disability.
  • #1 What Causes Auditory Processing Disorder? | Special Mom Advocate
    https://specialmomadvocate.com/causes-auditory-processing-disorder/
    Audiologists have not determined exactly what causes auditory processing disorder (APD), although there has been some consensus that there are two primary types: […] In the case of acquired APD, some insult to the brain disrupted the stimulation of the auditory cortex. This in essence reduced the development of the auditory processing. […] Excessive ear infections (otitis media) is the most issues for what causes auditory processing disorder. […] Other causes of acquired APD can include a head injury (even just a concussion), certain antibiotics, reaction to the DTaP vaccine, or excessive high fever from illness. […] With hereditary APD, it can be difficult to know what causes auditory processing disorder. […] Sometimes the hereditary component of APD is not that the auditory cortex is mis-wired, but that the family is predisposed to have excessive ear infections. […] Hereditary APD does not always respond to therapies. […] Sometimes you cannot pinpoint what causes auditory processing disorder.
  • #1 All You Need to Know About Auditory Processing DisorderLinkedIn Icon
    https://tomatis.com.au/all-you-need-to-know-about-auditory-processing-disorder/
    Another study provided evidence suggesting that heredity causes APD. […] Brain abnormalities: Researchers studied a young girl with listening, language, and learning problems. […] Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI): Researchers evaluated how people who suffered from MTBI understood spoken words amidst speech noise. […] Ear problems: The middle ear can have issues such as a hole in the eardrum or an infection that doesn’t heal. […] Multiple sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. […] Alzheimer’s Disease: Age-related CAPD is linked to loss of structure and function of brain cells. […] Premature birth: Researchers evaluated 82 premature children for CAPD. […] Lead poisoning: Lead poisoning happens when you breathe, eat, drink, or touch too much lead.
  • #1 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children
    https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/understanding-auditory-processing-disorders-in-children/?srsltid=AfmBOopXtuqP8lJZuzV0voSDmtvvWJkez_ecIdxiy4iG-70MnbZSNvYC
    In its very broadest sense, APD refers to how the central nervous system (CNS) uses auditory information. […] However, it is important to emphasize that APD is an auditory deficit that is not the result of other higher-order cognitive, language, or related disorder. […] For many children and adults with these disorders and others including intellectual disabilities and sensory integration dysfunction the listening and comprehension difficulties we often see are due to the higher-order, more global or all-encompassing disorder and not to any specific deficit in the neural processing of auditory stimuli per se. […] In some cases, however, APD may co-exist with ADHD or other disorders. […] Therefore, we should always keep in mind that not all language and learning problems are due to APD, and all cases of APD do not lead to language and learning problems.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) : Canada : eMentalHealth.ca
    https://www.ementalhealth.ca/Canada/Auditory-Processing-Disorder-APD/index.php?m=article&ID=8900
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition which affects how people hear the sounds around them. […] Many factors can affect the brains ability to process auditory information such as: Genetic factors, i.e. some people inherit auditory processing problems from their parents. […] Acquired, i.e. it is caused by problems at birth, untreated ear infections that affect hearing, or brain injury (e.g. head injury or concussion). […] APD can be seen on its own, but often it can be seen along with other conditions, such as: Non-verbal learning disability (NVLD): APD is more frequent in children who have a diagnosis of non-verbal learning disability (Keller et al., 2006). […] Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): ADHD and APDs are separate conditions, each of which may occur on their own, as well as together. […] Figuring out what is ADHD and what is APD can be challenging due to the similarities in symptoms between them, but there are ways to distinguish between the two (Chermak et al., 1999).
  • #1 What Causes Auditory Processing Disorder?
    https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/what-causes-auditory-processing-disorder
    You can be born with it. […] Yes, you can. So basically, what you inherit is just some faulty wiring through your genes. […] There could be some research happening right now. But at this point in time, we don’t have an accurate percentage of the incidence in a classroom. But I would think in every classroom, there’s going to be at least one or two, or even up to four or five children that could have some aspect of auditory processing disorder. […] One of the big groups of children with auditory processing is those who have difficulty with literacy, aspects of literacy, particularly decoding and spelling, because they’re having difficulty with auditory discrimination. […] In some aspects or some types of auditory processing disorder there’s a big correlation with dyslexia. […] But it certainly is the case that children with certain aspects of APD do have more difficulty with acquiring competent literacy skills.
  • #1 Auditory processing disorder (APD)
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/
    It’s not always clear what causes auditory processing disorder (APD). […] Possible causes include: […] regular ear infections […] genetics […] head injury […] complications at birth. […] APD is often found in people with attention, language and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • #1 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children
    https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/understanding-auditory-processing-disorders-in-children/?srsltid=AfmBOopXtuqP8lJZuzV0voSDmtvvWJkez_ecIdxiy4iG-70MnbZSNvYC
    The type, frequency, and intensity of therapy, like all aspects of APD intervention, should be highly individualized and programmed for the specific type of auditory disorder that is present. […] The degree to which an individual child’s auditory deficits will improve with therapy cannot be determined in advance. […] Thus, when the journey is navigated carefully, accurately, and appropriately, there can be light at the end of the tunnel for the millions of children afflicted with APD. […] APD is an auditory disorder that is not the result of higher-order, more global deficit such as autism, intellectual disabilities, attention deficits, or similar impairments. […] Not all learning, language, and communication deficits are due to APD. […] Although a multidisciplinary team approach is important in fully understanding the cluster of problems associated with APD, the diagnosis of APD can only be made by an audiologist. […] Treatment of APD is highly individualized. There is no one treatment approach that is appropriate for all children with APD.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder Therapies For Children | Free Guide
    https://soundsory.com/auditory-processing-disorder-therapies/
    Auditory processing disorder, also called APD and central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), is a disorder of the auditory (hearing) system that impacts the brain’s ability to filter, process, and interpret sounds. The disorder happens at the level of the brain called the central auditory nervous system (CANS). People with APD have normal hearing structures and hearing abilities. However, even though the ears can hear just fine, the brain has trouble making sense of the sounds it hears. […] APD (or CAPD) can have many different causes. It can be directly linked to a particular lesion or disorder, or its cause may be unknown. Below are the leading causes and risk factors of APD: genetics, neurological diseases and disorders (e.g., epilepsy, head trauma, and meningitis), ear disorders or diseases (e.g., chronic otitis media), developmental delay, prenatal/neonatal risk factors (e.g., prematurity, drug exposure, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypoxia). […] It can also affect adults of all ages due to causes like cardiovascular diseases, neurotoxicity, and malignancy.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder | Audiology Center of Maine
    https://audiologymaine.com/auditory-processing-disorder/
    An APD is a disorder of how the brain receives, encodes and interprets the information it receives. […] Head trauma, strokes, diseases and medications may also contribute to auditory processing disorders. […] Untreated hearing loss, or inappropriately treated hearing loss, is another cause for APD. The lack of auditory input, or distorted input, will reduce or distort the input the brain receives, which may result in neural atrophy or neural reorganization (the neurons necessary for hearing disappear or do not respond appropriately to input). This ultimately leads to reduced ability to hear sounds or process language, especially in complex situations.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder | Boston Children’s Hospital
    https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder
    Auditory processing is the brain’s ability to accurately perceive speech in both quiet and noisy settings. The cause of a child’s auditory processing disorder is often unknown, and research into risk factors for (C)APD is currently ongoing through Boston Children’s Auditory Processing Service. Evidence suggests the following can be associated with a higher risk for (C)APD, although not everyone with these conditions will have auditory issues: […] Chronic middle ear infections […] Concussions or head injuries […] Neurological issues and seizures […] Lyme disease […] Lead poisoning […] Genetic factors: (C)APD may run in families.
  • #1
    https://journals.lww.com/sjmm/fulltext/2023/11040/understanding_auditory_processing_disorder__a.2.aspx
    APD can be a result of the central auditory system lesions, such as strokes and other neurological etiologies. […] The location of lesion in the central auditory nervous system can help clinicians identify what central auditory processing is affected. […] Although the major characteristic of APD is central, observations have shown the involvement of cochlear hearing loss (i.e., peripheral hearing loss) in degrading auditory performances. […] The cause of APD remains unidentified in most children diagnosed with the disorder. […] Research on the etiology of APD is needed to differentiate APD from other childhood pathologies that could lead to poor performances on central auditory processing tasks.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) | Nationwide Children’s Hospital
    https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder
    Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a disorder of the auditory (hearing) system that causes a disruption in the way that an individuals brain understands what they are hearing. […] Auditory Processing Disorder is a disorder of the auditory system at the level of the brain, in an area called the auditory cortex. […] Auditory Processing Disorder, also referred to as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), can occur in both children and adults. […] Auditory Processing Disorder is relatively rare with only about 3-4 percent of the population truly having APD and is not always fully understood. […] The areas of the brain responsible for auditory processing abilities continue to grow and develop throughout childhood until around age 13, when the auditory system is considered to be more mature and adult-like. […] Due to this gradual maturation, it is possible that a child who was diagnosed with APD before age 13 could essentially grow out of APD.
  • #1 What Causes Auditory Processing Disorder?
    https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/what-causes-auditory-processing-disorder
    You could have a processing disorder that up until five doesn’t cause you any difficulty. But when you get on through school, and as the language of the classroom becomes more complex, and you are required to do more sophisticated things with your listening and processing, that your processing disorder becomes more apparent as you go through school. […] For some students, when language becomes more complex and less literal, subtle aspects of auditory processing as in not understanding sarcasm because you’re not able to make those fine distinctions between tone of voice.
  • #1 Porter Academy – Auditory Processing Disorder (APD/CAPD)
    https://www.porteracademy.org/auditory-processing-disorder-apd-capd/
    Children with auditory processing disorder (APD) may behave as if they have a hearing loss; they may respond inconsistently to speech, often misunderstand what is said, and have difficulty listening or paying attention in noisy environments. […] Poor memory for verbally presented information and difficulty following long directions can also be common. […] Children with APD may have difficulty with one or more of the following components: Auditory Figure-Ground: the ability to process speech in the presence of background noise; Filtered Words: the ability to process distorted speech; children with this difficulty do not accurately process verbal language when the speaker is facing the other direction or is not speaking clearly; this can slow processing speed and affect comprehension; Time Compressed Sentences (TCS): the ability to process fast-paced speech; Dichotic Listening: the ability to process competing speech signals coming in through different ears; this is an indicator of how efficiently the neurological signals are crossing the Corpus Callosum, connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.
  • #1 Porter Academy – Auditory Processing Disorder (APD/CAPD)
    https://www.porteracademy.org/auditory-processing-disorder-apd-capd/
    Ear advantage (EA) is the difference in processing ability between the right ear and the left ear. […] The ear advantage provides information about neuro-maturational development of the auditory system. […] A left ear advantage is a more serious finding, as it can be indicative of poor localization of hemispheric function or right hemisphere function, which can be consistent with language and/or reading problems.
  • #1 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children
    https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/understanding-auditory-processing-disorders-in-children/?srsltid=AfmBOopXtuqP8lJZuzV0voSDmtvvWJkez_ecIdxiy4iG-70MnbZSNvYC
    APD cannot be diagnosed from a symptoms checklist. […] No matter how many symptoms of APD a child may have, only careful and accurate diagnostics can determine the underlying cause. […] To diagnose APD, the audiologist will administer a series of tests in a sound-treated room. […] Once a diagnosis of APD is made, the nature of the disorder is determined. […] There are many types of auditory processing deficits and, because each child is an individual, APD may manifest itself in a variety of ways. […] Therefore, it is necessary to determine the type of auditory deficit a given child exhibits so that individualized management and treatment activities may be recommended that address his or her specific areas of difficulty. […] Treatment of APD must be highly individualized and deficit-specific.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) – Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
    https://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/600_699/0668.html
    Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central auditory processing disorder, supposedly interferes with both the input and integration of verbal information, and results in a potentially permanent cognitive dysfunction during the developmental period of acquisition of language. […] Although the exact cause(s) of APD remains unclear, it does not appear to be caused by peripheral hearing impairment. […] Aetna’s policy on APD is based upon the limited evidence for APD as a distinct pathophysiologic entity, upon a lack of evidence of established criteria and well validated instruments to diagnose APD and reliably distinguish it from other conditions affecting listening and/or spoken language comprehension, and upon the lack of evidence from well designed clinical studies proving the effectiveness of interventions for treating APD.
  • #1 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) – Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
    https://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/600_699/0668.html
    The reported frequent co-occurrence of APD with other disorders affecting listening and/or spoken language comprehension suggests that APD is not, in fact, a distinct clinical entity. […] The authors concluded that the findings of this study identified a general auditory processing factor in addition to 2 other cognitive factors, „working memory and executive attention” and „processing speed and alerting attention”, to underlie the deficits in children with susAPD. […] The authors concluded that this study presented the preliminary electrophysiological results in children with a CAPD subtype characterized by deficits in auditory processing of competing acoustic signals and auditory pattern recognition (or temporal patterning).
  • #2 Auditory processing disorder (APD) | Beacon Health System
    https://www.beaconhealthsystem.org/library/diseases-and-conditions/auditory-processing-disorder-apd?content_id=CON-20549640
    Auditory processing disorder, also called APD, is a type of hearing loss caused by something affecting the part of the brain that processes how you hear. […] The cause of auditory processing disorder (APD) is sometimes unknown. APD can be linked to many conditions. In older adults, conditions might include stroke and head trauma. In children, APD can be linked to issues at birth, such as low birth weight or early birth, or repeated ear infections. […] In typical hearing, the brain’s auditory center takes the sound waves sent from the ears and turns them into sounds you know. But with auditory processing disorder (APD), the auditory part of the brain can’t do this.
  • #2 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: A Narrative Review
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10634468/
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is defined as difficulty in listening despite possessing hearing thresholds within the normal limit. […] The cause of APD remains unidentified in most children diagnosed with the disorder. While some causes of APD have been theorized, there is limited literature available to provide definitive evidence. Inefficient interhemispheric information transfer and imprecise neural synchrony have been suggested as possible causes of APD. […] Cigarette smoking during pregnancy, ingestion of lead in early childhood, and otitis media (OM) with effusion before the age of 2 years have also been found to cause APD. […] Although each of the aforementioned reported factors may be linked to APD, other factors, such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities, should also be considered.
  • #2 What Causes APD | AuditoryPAT, LLC
    https://www.auditoryprocessingandtherapy.com/what-causes-apd
    There are events that can cause an auditory processing disorder (APD). These events may result in the disruption of a clear and timely message being sent to the brain. The most common cause of APD is genetic, meaning it was inherited. […] Some other possible issues include: oxygen deprivation ( ex: traumatic birth; near drowning; excess cigarette smoking) […] significantly high billirubin levels soon after birth […] head injuries […] chronic middle ear fluid within the first few months of life that resulted in a temporary hearing loss for an extended period of time […] surgical compromise […] viral infections […] chemo treatment (I have seen a few patients who acquired an auditory processing disorder following treatment) […] In most cases, the cause of the APD is not known.
  • #2 Central Auditory Processing Disorder – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587357/
    CAPD can be difficult to diagnose, given its broad etiology. Generally, it is linked to a specific lesion or disorder, but the cause may be unknown. There are several leading causes and risk factors for CAPD. […] Degeneration of the CANS […] Most commonly due to age-related changes […] Genetics […] Neurological disease or damage […] Cerebrovascular disorder – eg, stroke […] Brain injury or damage – eg, meningitis or head trauma […] Neurodegenerative disorders – eg, multiple sclerosis […] Lesions or tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) […] Epilepsy […] Neurotoxins – eg, heavy metals […] Otological disease – eg, auditory deprivation as a result of chronic otitis media […] Developmental delay […] Prenatal/neonatal risk factors […] Anoxia […] Hypoxia […] Prematurity […] Drug exposure […] Hyperbilirubinemia […] Cytomegalovirus.
  • #2 What Causes Auditory Processing Disorder? – Auditory Processing Center
    https://auditorycenter.com/what-is-auditory-processing-disorder/what-causes-auditory-processing-disorder/
    How well sound information is interpreted depends on our level of auditory processing skills which are primarily developed during the critical periods of learning language during the first three years when the brain is most prepared to map information from sounds or spoken words onto its language centers. Although there are many factors often associated with Auditory Processing Disorder, the cause of APD is often unknown. […] Children with a history of frequent ear infections are at a greater risk for APD because speech often sounds muffled and distorted when the middle ear is full of fluid. This results in inaccurate coding of speech sounds. It can often cause long term effects on auditory development because it leads to rewiring of the parts of the brain that process sounds. […] Prematurity can result in a delay in the development of the central auditory nervous system. […] Extremely high fever (over 105 degrees) as a very young child. […] Traumatic birth (extremely long labor, forceps used, stuck in birth canal, etc.). […] Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice). […] Genetic history. […] Brain injury (Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury/TBI).
  • #2 Auditory processing disorder (APD) // Middlesex Health
    https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/auditory-processing-disorder-apd
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a type of hearing loss caused by something affecting the part of the brain that processes how you hear. […] The cause of auditory processing disorder (APD) is sometimes unknown. APD can be linked to many conditions. In older adults, conditions might include stroke and head trauma. In children, APD can be linked to issues at birth, such as low birth weight or early birth, or repeated ear infections. […] In typical hearing, the brain’s auditory center takes the sound waves sent from the ears and turns them into sounds you know. But with auditory processing disorder (APD), the auditory part of the brain can’t do this.
  • #2 Central Auditory Processing Disorder
    https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/central-auditory-processing-disorder/?srsltid=AfmBOorTdwmifBEZ9jSkDOmB1uve8Hd29GEa7Pa_FXXavjuw3B8zzqfq
    The etiology of central auditory processing disorder may be linked to a specific lesion or disorder or may be unknown. Causes and risk factors for central auditory processing disorder may include the following (Bamiou et al., 2001; Baran Musiek, 1999; Chermak Musiek, 2011): […] genetic determinants […] neurological disorder, disease, or damage […] otologic disorder, disease, or injury (e.g., auditory deprivation secondary to recurrent otitis media) […] prenatal/neonatal factors, such as […] anoxia/hypoxia; […] cytomegalovirus; […] hyperbilirubinemia (i.e., buildup of bilirubin in the blood); […] low birth weight; […] prematurity; and […] prenatal drug exposure.
  • #2 Auditory Processing Disorder | Boston Children’s Hospital
    https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder
    Auditory processing is the brain’s ability to accurately perceive speech in both quiet and noisy settings. The cause of a child’s auditory processing disorder is often unknown, and research into risk factors for (C)APD is currently ongoing through Boston Children’s Auditory Processing Service. Evidence suggests the following can be associated with a higher risk for (C)APD, although not everyone with these conditions will have auditory issues: […] Chronic middle ear infections […] Concussions or head injuries […] Neurological issues and seizures […] Lyme disease […] Lead poisoning […] Genetic factors: (C)APD may run in families.
  • #2 Auditory Processing Disorder – Kidshealth | Akron Children’s
    https://www.akronchildrens.org/kidshealth/en/parents/central-auditory.html
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a hearing problem that affects about 3%5% of school-aged children. […] Often, the cause of a child’s APD isn’t known. Evidence suggests that children with head trauma, lead poisoning, seizure disorder, or chronic ear infections are more at risk. Sometimes, there can be more than one cause.
  • #2 Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): Symptoms & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24938-auditory-processing-disorder
    Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition where your brain cant understand and interpret auditory signals the way it should. […] Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition that makes it harder to process sounds and language. […] APD is usually discovered in childhood. But it can be found in adults, too. […] Many different things can cause it, including: Central nervous system disorders like stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Alzheimers disease, Frequent ear infections, Genetics, Head injuries, Low birth weight or premature birth, Neurodivergent conditions like ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. […] If you have APD, you might have more trouble communicating compared to your peers. Over time, this may lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
  • #2 Auditory processing disorder (APD)
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/
    It’s not always clear what causes auditory processing disorder (APD). […] Possible causes include: […] regular ear infections […] genetics […] head injury […] complications at birth. […] APD is often found in people with attention, language and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • #2 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: A Narrative Review
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10634468/
    Research on the etiology of APD is needed to differentiate APD from other childhood pathologies that could lead to poor performances on central auditory processing tasks. […] APD can be a result of the central auditory system lesions, such as strokes and other neurological etiologies. […] The location of lesion in the central auditory nervous system can help clinicians identify what central auditory processing is affected. […] Although the major characteristic of APD is central, observations have shown the involvement of cochlear hearing loss (i.e., peripheral hearing loss) in degrading auditory performances.
  • #2 Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children
    https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/understanding-auditory-processing-disorders-in-children/?srsltid=AfmBOopXtuqP8lJZuzV0voSDmtvvWJkez_ecIdxiy4iG-70MnbZSNvYC
    APD cannot be diagnosed from a symptoms checklist. […] No matter how many symptoms of APD a child may have, only careful and accurate diagnostics can determine the underlying cause. […] To diagnose APD, the audiologist will administer a series of tests in a sound-treated room. […] Once a diagnosis of APD is made, the nature of the disorder is determined. […] There are many types of auditory processing deficits and, because each child is an individual, APD may manifest itself in a variety of ways. […] Therefore, it is necessary to determine the type of auditory deficit a given child exhibits so that individualized management and treatment activities may be recommended that address his or her specific areas of difficulty. […] Treatment of APD must be highly individualized and deficit-specific.