Auditory Processing Assessment and Therapy
What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Auditory processing refers to how the brain interprets and makes sense of the sounds we hear. While a standard hearing test measures how well your ears detect soft sounds, an auditory processing assessment evaluates the entire auditory system from your ears all the way to your brain.
In adults, auditory processing abilities can decline over time, which may explain why some people find it increasingly difficult to follow conversations in noisy environments or group settings.
For children, even if their hearing sensitivity is normal at birth, the brain’s ability to process sound continues to develop over time. As these auditory pathways strengthen, children learn to interpret speech, filter out background noise, and focus on important sounds. This development is crucial for effective communication and learning.
APD can arise from a variety of causes, including delayed neurological development, recurrent middle ear infections, brain injuries, concussions, or as part of broader neurological conditions. It is also commonly associated with difficulties in reading, spelling, language development, Dyslexia, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
APD can affect individuals at any stage of life and across all levels of intelligence and learning ability.
Auditory Processing Assessment
APD assessments are available for individuals aged 5 years and older. The assessment fee is $499 and the evaluation typically takes around two hours.
If you have not previously completed a standard hearing test, we will schedule this prior to your APD assessment. This step ensures that factors such as middle ear fluid or hearing loss do not affect the accuracy of your results.
Due to the specialised nature of this service and limited availability across clinics, there is often a waitlist for APD assessments. We appreciate your patience, as these evaluations require detailed analysis and reporting for an accurate diagnosis.
Please note that these assessments are conducted online and are only available at designated times. To schedule your appointment, please enquire on the link below.
Auditory Training & Therapy
We provide a 12-week block course for Auditory Training and Therapy.
This is typically a one-hour appointment per week with our specialised APD audiologist. We tailor the training material to suit your specific needs and weaknesses identified in your assessment. All appointments are provided online and can be suited to your individual needs, time/day requirements.
We use the Buffalo Model Therapy to help retrain your brain’s ability to understand individual phonemes, comprehend speech in background noise, and improve auditory memory.
This training model has been proven worldwide to improve auditory abilities – our brain is amazing!
The cost of this block course is $2400 and includes a full re-assessment at the end of the therapy to measure improvement.
Experienced. Trusted. Specialised.
Auditory Processing difficulties can only be diagnosed by a qualified audiologist, and it’s important to see someone with specific expertise in this area. As a specialist service, we remain at the forefront of evidence-based practice, using the latest research, tools, and techniques to ensure the highest standard of care.
We follow the specialised APD Guidelines, using a comprehensive battery of specialist tests. After the assessment, we take the time to explain your results clearly, provide a detailed report, and recommend a personalised intervention plan.
If you're unsure whether an APD assessment is right for you or your child, we welcome you to give us a call. A short conversation can help you confidently take the next step. Otherwise, email us at the link above.