Autism - differences in hearing and auditory processing

[MolangNDboard]

This thread is inspired by a thread I read on MN about someone who went for a 'sound bath' and experienced an unpleasant physical reaction to the sound. It got me thinking about the profound impact my differentiated ND auditory processing has on my life.

Anyone else want to chat about this and delve deeper into some of the science behind this and the impact on ND people?

I have a young ND child who seems to have inherited my auditory processing and I see the impact on her. Frankly, I feel angry that differentiated auditory processing is not widely understood/ seen as some kind of quirk of autism, when for me and my child it is one of the major defining factors of our neurodiversity.

I find myself thinking - why is there not a diagnostic test to screen for auditory processing issues in children - similar to a hearing test.

are you defining this as slow to process auditory input or sensory difficulties with different sounds?

I definitely have a delay in processing what I hear, don't understand a significant chunk of talk, and poossibly none in a loud environment. do not remember what I have heard well. especially if tired/meltdowny/noisy environment.

I also have sensory issues. can not bear certain sounds and it is worse when stressed or meltdowny.

Sorry I’m late to this. I’d like to chat! I think I have autistic traits. I’ve never been assessed for Autism, so I may or may not be Autistic. I was diagnosed with an auditory processing issue when I was young. I found it so very. Dry misunderstood. It doesn’t affect me quite as much as it used to, but then I think I avoid situations where it might affect me. I used to describe it to people as a bit like ‘hearing dyslexia’. It’s not the best description, but I was trying to get across the point that you can have perfect eyesight and trouble reading, and it can work like that but different with hearing. Not the best analogy.

I agree that there should be a test for this. I was very interested when I recently found a link between auditory processing issues and Autism.

Schrödinger's autism! Never quite sure 'til you open the box!

Hearing dyslexia is a great description.

I listen to songs/hymns on the radio. I always wondered why they played hymns as, unless you knew the words, it was impossible to understand anything they sang. Perhaps other people can hear the words.

I find myself thinking - why is there not a diagnostic test to screen for auditory processing issues in children - similar to a hearing test.

I know someone who fought to get a referral to GOSH for an auditory processing disorder assessment for their child. I think it’s crazy that it’s not more widely offered. So a test does exist.

Really? Well I never!

I wish I could have a test.

I had excellent auditory memory as a child - something akin to a photographic memory - and it was brilliant in exams. But from about 20 it diminished and now I find it difficult to recall conversations and stories, I can’t learn songs by ear. Sometimes I can listen to two or three streams of conversation at once, other times I can’t tune in properly if there’s any noise. Sometimes I need to double the playback speed to hear, and other times I’m wearing out the rewind button.

I always mishear lyrics - hymns especially. My df had hearing issues but also, what I used to think of as, listening issues. Sometimes now I realise my dc or dh is talking to me and I’ve not been tuning in, despite being right there and hearing them perfectly.

no idea if this relates but I’m interested in this discussion and would love to hear more

Another one who can't hear song lyrics - ASC ADHD. Can't park the car unless I turn music down. Can't drive on the motorway without music turned high to drown out other car noise that distracts me