Hi everyone, I’m Amythest and welcome to Ask an Autistic.
[Music: I want a renaissance / to shine alight / be the change we want / set things right
/ we've been waiting in the dark for so long...] Central Auditory Processing Disorder
is a neurological condition that is common amongst autistic people, but like SPD or dyspraxia,
does also occur in non-autistics.
Before we look deeper into CAPD, I want to make a brief note here about receptive language
disorders. As Mel Baggs has said, although the two terms are sometimes incorrectly used
interchangeably, having an auditory processing disorder and a receptive language disorder
are actually two different things. It is possible to have both CAPD and a receptive
language disorder, but they don’t always go hand in hand.
A receptive language disorder is a form of cognitive impairment, defined
by issues understanding language of any or all forms.
But receptive language issues deserve their own video, so I’ll stop there. But to sum
up, CAPD and receptive language disorders are two different things.
To put it simply, CAPD is a breakdown in the communication between the ears and the brain.
A person who has CAPD probably has functional hearing structures, but the brain struggles
to filter, sort, recognize, isolate, prioritize, process, and remember auditory input- and
that's a lot- with the most common struggles surrounding spoken language.
This makes sense, as most people talk pretty quickly, and a lot of information comes at
you all at once in a spoken conversation. Considering dialects, accents, and speech
impairments, and a person with CAPD can face daunting struggles just trying to order a
meal or have a conversation with someone. And this is to say nothing of background noise
of daily life- there's blenders and coffee bean grinders, traffic sounds, car radios,
raised voices filling restaurants, the roar of air conditioning units, music blaring from
shops in cafés- well, you get the idea.
So what is having CAPD like? What does someone with CAPD experience day to day? The thing
to keep in your mind as I explain, using some examples from my own life too, is that our
society is obsessed with spoken language, and there tends to be very little acceptance
or leeway for anyone who struggles with it. The other thing to remember is that every
brain is different, and that goes for autistic people and people with CAPD or other auditory
processing disorders. Some common CAPD experiences include:
Having difficulty picking out voices or certain sounds in noisy environments.
It's pretty common to always be asking “pardon?”, “what?”, or “could you please repeat
that?”, and you can say it, like, a hundred times in a conversation, it feels sometimes.
Missing or misunderstanding spoken instructions at school or work.
Forgetting the spoken instructions or directions that you have already received, and needing
directions to be repeated for you. Having difficulty distinguishing between the
different sounds in words, sometimes because of similarity, like confusing a CH sound with
a TH sound. And experiencing a delay in hearing someone
speaking or realizing that it is speech, or knowing that someone is speaking but being
unable to pick out the actual words. And their voice may actually sound distorted,
as if they are underwater, or like the adults in "Charlie Brown".
Focusing on or completing an activity is a struggle when other sounds are happening,
and you can find yourself easily distracted from the task at hand.
Difficulty with reading, comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, writing, or learning a new language
are very common. And so is having trouble in school, particularly
with following along in lectures and taking notes, with oral/audial testing and verbal
math problems posing particular challenges for some of us.
You might also have difficulty following long conversations and you might become more fatigued
by socializing more quickly than neurotypical people.
And finally, a slow or non-existent response to spoken engagement is common- the classic
example being the autistic child with an auditory processing disorder who doesn't respond to
their parents calling their name. A deer-in-headlights look when asked a question is also pretty
common, and both of those things, both those examples can look like hearing issues or dDeafness
at first glance. Not every autistic person with have CAPD,
and not every person with CAPD will experience every trait or every symptom. And, like most
other facets of a neurodivergent person’s abilities, CAPD can fluctuate in intensity
and it often worsened by stress, like being tired or being sick. So, a person with CAPD
may be able to follow a conversation along fine, or pick out lyrics from music one day,
but may struggle with the same situations the next. And this doesn't mean the struggles
aren't valid. It's just variable. And so understanding is key.
When it comes to auditory processing issues, a lot of people, even professionals and doctors,
will dismiss a person’s struggles with CAPD because often, when tested, their hearing
itself isn't impaired, which makes doctors and parents think that there's nothing going
on. But there is- it’s all just happening neurologically. The issue isn't the structure
of the ear or the hearing, it's sensory. It's the brain’s ability to recognize, identify,
sort, and process the sounds from their environment. Which I keep repeating, but it's kind of like,
the central idea of what CAPD is. So the first and best way you can support
someone with auditory processing issues is to believe them. The second best thing to
do is to ask the person in question about their experiences, to listen, and to trust
that they know their brain best. And even if they're a child, they might have insights
into their auditory issues that you wouldn't have thought of.
When communicating with people with auditory processing issues, respect and patience are
important. When you speak, try to enunciate and speak at a speed that works for the person
listening, to the best of your ability. You can try to make sure that the person isn’t
getting left behind by asking “Did you get all of that?” or “Does that make sense?”.
In group conversations, you can check in with the person with CAPD every so often, and you
can lead others in being conscious of how fast and clearly you're talking.
If you are getting the deer-in-headlights stare, or if person with auditory processing
issues keep saying “what?” or asking you to repeat yourself, let them know it’s okay
and try repeating yourself a little slower and just a little bit louder. You can try
phrasing your sentence more simply if it got kind of rambly, like I often get. If conversation
is a struggle, you can also look around the environment. Or ask the person. Is there any
background noise that could be interfering with their ability to pick out your voice?
And keep in mind that people with CAPD may be able to hear or perceive things that you
can’t or don't, like the whine of electronics that are "on" but on standby, or the “buzzing”
of a light. And also, something that doesn’t seem loud or bothersome to you may be very
loud and very bothersome to someone with sensory issues.
And if a person with CAPD tells you that they are having trouble understanding you, you
can ask what you can do to help- for example, they may need you to turn and face them when
you speak, so that they can use lipreading in combination with listening to understand
what you're saying better. You can also try to use more straightforward sentences, if
that's something that you and the person with CAPD have found helpful, although you always
want to avoid speaking to a person of any age as if they were a dog, or a very small
child, or incapable of understanding. Tone definitely matters, and there are ways to
speak clearly and simply without using the dreaded ~voice~. All you disabled people out
there, you know what I mean. For parents of kids with CAPD, there are some
things you can do to make sure that home is a safe place where your child can recharge
and rest. 'Cause the world is loud, so you need to have a safe haven. The first thing
is to reduce the amount of background noise going on. I have been inside homes where the
radio is playing in the kitchen, the television is playing in the living room, and a bunch
of people are there all trying to talk over this noise, which means they are all pretty
much shouting. This makes for a particularly unfriendly and exhausting environment. So
my first tip is: If the television is not in use, turn it off. Same with the radio.
And try to keep music volumes low. And if you are trying to have a conversation
your child, or if your child needs to be engaged in an activity that requires auditory processing
or concentration, try to make the environment as peaceful and quiet as possible. This especially
goes for homework time. The kitchen table or living room is often too stimulating and
breaks focus. So a dedicated homework area, even just a corner, in the quietest location
you can find is a good idea. If reducing the ambient noise isn’t possible- like when
there are noisy siblings around- providing earplugs or ear protection, or noise-cancelling
headphone, which, if you want, can play white noise, or quiet, calm instrumental music with
no lyrics. Those things can help. And if your child has trouble understanding
or recalling spoken instructions, you can provide them in a visual format, so they can
understand, like a picture and/or word schedule, or a chart that breaks their activities, or
chores, or self-care tasks into smaller steps. And as you work together to find a system
that works for your child, keep in mind that auditory processing struggles are real, and
that frustration is expected. But hopefully, with understanding and willingness to accommodate
your loved one with CAPD, um, their individual needs, life can be a lot less frustrating.
While every child is different and will have their own sensory processing needs, there
are some accommodations for a classroom-type environment that can be generally helpful.
These include: Making an effort to speak clearly and loudly
enough. Reducing background noise as much as possible. Giving a student with CAPD a
spot at the front of the classroom so that they can see and hear better. Allowing the
student to take tests or work on assignments in a quieter area, if they feel they need
to. Encouraging the use of assistive devices in class, such as a recording device to record
lecture, or a personal FM system, which is a system in which the teacher wears a microphone
and the student with CAPD wears a receiver. You can also allow students to wear ear protection
or noise cancelling headphones when they need to. And providing an aid to assist in note-taking,
following instructions, clarifying information and answering questions, if that sounds like
it would be helpful for the person is question. Schools can also consider making the classroom
a better auditory sensory environment overall. Some sugegstions include adding carpeting,
acoustic ceiling tiles, window treatments like curtains, and replacing light fixtures
or light bulbs with lighting that doesn't “hum” or ”buzz”. These are positive
changes that actually make for a better learning environment for everyone, neurotypical or
not. We all have sensory needs, after all. And it is useful to note that much of this
can apply to a workplace, as well. Like improving the sensory environment, decreasing ambient
noise, providing printed notes or minutes for meetings, and giving instructions in writing,
like through e-mail.
I hope that this video was informative for everyone watching. If you have auditory processing
disorder and you feel so inclined, please join in the discussion in the comment section
under this video. I'm wondering, for you guys: What is CAPD like for you? And hat areas of
your life does it affect? And what are your tips and tricks for getting by in a noisy
world? And what would you like people who don’t have CAPD to know?
If you have a topic that you would like to see covered in a future video, please feel
free to post it in the comments or message it to me. And as always, sources and further
reading on today's topic can be found in the video description below. Thank you for watching
Ask an Autistic.
[Music: I want a renaissance / to shine a light / be the change we want /
set things right / we've been waiting in the dark / for so long...]
[To kitty, offscreen] Just go lie down or something. [papers rustle] [loud thump]
Ouch.
Kitty is using the toilet. Right now. As I'm trying to film.
[faint sound of water splashing]
[toilet flush sound]
[loud sound as phone falls to the floor]