Auditory Therapies
Auditory training therapy is a treatment used for students with auditory processing disorder (APD)
Auditory training therapy is a treatment used for students with auditory processing disorder (APD)
Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), is an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect the way the brain processes auditory information. APD/CAPD is diagnosed by an audiologist. It can lead to difficulties in recognition and interpreting sounds, especially the sounds composing speech. SLLC offers the following auditory therapies as prescribed by an audiologist.
The Dichotic Interaural Intensity Difference
The Dichotic Interaural Intensity Difference training or DIID is an auditory training procedure based on split-brain research. Children with learning disabilities are at risk for left ear deficits, particularly in the transference of information between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The DIID aids in the efficient and effective transmission of information between the hemispheres which allows for increased academic performance. The need for the Diid is determined by an audiologist and is typically recommended for three sessions a week for 20 to 30 minutes.
Basic Auditory Training
The Basic Auditory Training Program (BAT) is an auditory training therapy program which seeks to develop a child’s ability to detect spectral patterns. Processing pitch and timing cues are prerequisite skills for the development of phonological skills. The BAT program consists of assessment and training tracks. The auditory listening exercises are performed every day for 20 to 30 minutes a day. This means the child is making perceptual decisions about what s/he hears for each trial with attention focused to what is heard. Gradually, the ability to process the acoustic requirements of speech perception improve.
Articulation Disorder and/or Child Apraxia of Speech
Issues with speech clarity/intelligibility
Leaving out consonants in words, ex: cu for cup
Substitution of consonants, ex: wun for run
Distortion of consonants, ex: tsun for sun
Difficulty producing sounds in the correct order in a word, ex pasketti for spaghetti
Articulation disorders are treated through a variety of approaches such as developmental approaches which forget individual phonemes in a developmental manner. Depending on the nature and severity of the articulation disorder, other approaches that may be indicated are approaches that target oral motor sequencing for childhood apraxia of speech or the use of smart palate which targets phonemes that have not responded to traditional articulation therapy.
