Hearing Problems or Auditory Processing Disorder.

[TheNewWitchOfSWL]

My daughter is dyslexic and has undiagnosed dyscalculia.
Her teacher is concerned about her hearing and suggested she gets her hearing checked…now I always knew that she was a bit different with her 'not listening', but people just kept telling me this is normal kids behaviour etc…Once, when she was at Nursery or Reception (don't remember properly) I wanted to do a full hearing check but the GP refused to make a referral. Now she is 7 in Y3 and we just been today to the GP and she will make a referral, however I suspect there is nothing wrong with her hearing but it is a case of Auditory Processing Disorder…
Where do I get her diagnosed for it (if the hearing test goes well) and how to get support for her?
Anyone here with children in the same boat?
TIA

[ChristmasJumperWearer]

My almost-7yo DC1 is in the early stages of the same diagnosis process, awaiting a hearing test, and the GP told me the hearing test is the first step, then we reconvene for the test results and see where we go from there.

Or there are private clinics around if your budget will allow. I was quoted around £500 for a diagnosis. Gulp.

Support in-school would be via your SENCO I believe, but the diagnosis will be needed for that.

Hopefully someone who has been through the process already will be along to enlighten us both!

[TheNewWitchOfSWL]

Thanks!
What I want to know is if the audiologist can have any input on the 'hearing/listening issue even if the results for the test are normal.
Also, are SENCOs and practitioners at schools familiar with APS?
I don't think much changed since daughter's dyslexia diagnostic and I am just working extra with daughter at home with literacy and maths..but I need to go in and talk to the SENCo about dyscalculia too very soon…will leave for 2015 though. Want to discuss the APS with her teacher first since she picked up an issue with the listening. Should I print off stuff from the internet and give to her in case she never heard about it or will it be patronising?
How did the process starter with your DS1 JumperWearer? Why did you decide to go through with it?

[beautifulgirls]

We went to Great Ormond Street for DD1 diagnosis of APD. She had to have a clear hearing test before referral and checked again just before she was seen to ensure clear for the testing on the day. There also had to be a professional opinion that she might have APD (in our case the Ed Psych had suggested it as one option). The GP and the audiologist couldn't decide who should refer and passed the referral back and forth for a while, but eventually the local audiologist made the referral for us. It took quite a while for the referral to then come through and we ended up with most but not all the testing done on the day and some further tests about 6 months later. She has APD, but that was no surprise to us - it is interesting to know in which areas of her hearing/processing that she struggles though.

[poppy70]

APD never appears alone. You need a hearing test first.

[TheNewWitchOfSWL]

APS???

Yes APD.
So the audiologist can make the referral. Good.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

As Poppy said the two are not mutually exclusive.
My daughter fails the standard hearing test due to mastoid abscess, but lip reads really well.
She is dyslexic and has a visual processing disorder related to this.
Although she can now hear what people say to her if she can not see the lips she struggles to process as when she was under three years her hearing was virtually no existent.
The dyslexic research trust are excellent in this area and are actively looking at children with these problems. Their assessment is £195 and covers all your return visits. They are part of the Oxford university research team.

[Mutteroo]

My DD has auditory processing disorder. She also has dyslexia, visual distress syndrome & horrendous issues with her processing & memory.

She wasn't diagnosed until she was 15 & the years of her thinking she was stupid wiped out her confidence. It's only been in the past two years that she's realised what an intelligent young woman she is.

What ever you need to do to get a diagnosis, just do it. Once we got our DC diagnosis it was such a relief!'