Auditory Processing Disorder and Vestibular assessments at GOSH

[mumgoingcrazy]

I was just wondering if anyone had gone through these at GOSH?

DD2 is 2yr 8mo and has just been referred for these tests and I would like to know what it involved. I feel she's so young, and a very delayed 2yr old at that so wondered how on earth they were going to manage these assessments.

Any info would be greatly received, thank you.

Bumping for you. No info sorry.

(I did think that they assess for APD after the age of 7 or 8 though?)

I hope you find it goes well

I did think 2 was young, but our audiologist assured me that the formal test at GOSH was over 2, and that they would easily cope with DD2's difficulties. I'm not knocking it, I think to have all this picked up so young is fantastic I'll definately go along, I just have no idea who they'd manage it with DD2.

Yes it's great that you've got a referral so soon. Good luck with the appointment

Mumgoingcrazy - I also thought they did not test for APD before age 6 so your post is very interesting. I have no experience of APD testing although I think my DD 3.8 may have some auditory processing issues. Please let us know how things go and good luck.

Hello,

My DS was dx with APD last year. He was ref'd when he was 5 but they refused to see him until he was 6.

I think it is very likely they will refuse your audio's referral unless they have drastically changed their referral criteria. I think you can look it up online.

My DS was 6 and has LD and it was difficult for him to complete the tests. They are not complicated but do involve the children having to follow instructions.

Example:
You will hear some beeps, can you tell me how many?
Can you tell me which noise is high and which noise is low?
Can you repeat the words you hear?
Press the button when you hear a noise.

It took a while for him to understand what was expected of him. There is no way he could have done this at 2.

The consultant also explained the APD is hard to dx before the brain has reached a certain stage in development and DS has to go back in April to be rechecked. This is to see how much he has changed due to natural maturation (think thats the term).

I could be wrong of course. I can only go by our experience. It was tough going with a delayed 6 year old, it will be pretty tricky with such a young child.

They may have different tests for younger children maybe?

I waited ages after the initail ref. It was only because I phoned GOSH that I found out tit wasnt accepted. After the 2nd ref I got an appointment pretty quickly so hopefully you should get a letter soon.

Good luck.

Just found this on GOSH site. Hope it helps

Referral to the Auditory Processing Disorder clinic at The Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust ? Consultant: Dr Tony Sirimanna
The Audiology Department at the Great Ormond Street Hospital is currently accepting only tertiary referrals (i.e. from another consultant in a related field)
Referrals should be made to Dr Tony Sirimanna, Consultant Audiological Physician, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London WC1N 3JH. You are welcome to discuss any prospective patients with Dr Sirimanna. His telephone number is 020 7813 8289 or e-mail [email protected]
Criteria:

1. Age range: 6 years to 16 years. (GOSH does not accept any referrals for patients over the age of 16 years.
2. Hearing status: Pure tone audiogram should show normal thresholds (better than 20dBHL) from 500Hz to 8kHz in both ears.
3. Tympanometry should be normal in both ears.

It is suggested that all patients have the following prior to the referral (please enclose reports with the referral letter)

1. Speech and language assessment examining

a. Phonological awareness b. Expressive and receptive ? verbal and non-verbal language

1. Educational Psychology assessment examining

a. Cognitive abilities b. Short-term auditory memory The above will make it easier to interpret the results of the APD tests that are being used currently. Please note that Dr Doris Bamiou, Hon. Consultant Audiological Physician also sees APD patients but the referrals should be made to Professor Linda Luxon. Dr Tony Sirimanna February 2006

Thanks for all the info chegirl (I should have looked all this up myself ). There is absolutely no way on this planet DD2 could respond to those directions. What I might do is if I havn't heard anything in a couple of weeks I'll phone the audiology consultant who referred us and see what's happening. From what you and Evie have said, it seems likely DD2 is too young. I know her APD is much much better since doing Therapeutic Listening, but I don't know how much is left. Maybe we'll just be getting our Vestibular assessment, and the APD one will come in a few years.

Thanks again
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I spoke to Dr Tony Sirimanna at Gerat ormond street regarding auditory processing assessment for my ds last year when ds was 5. He told me that it is a battery of tests and that ds was too you. I would also need an educational psycologists cognitive assessment and a speach and language assessment.

should be too 'young' not 'you'.

Also have seen looked at several studies on auditory processing assessment in younger children and there are question marks over how effective it is.

Haven't had these tests, but we have seen Dr Sirimanna at GOSH, he's really nice and very helpful. Be warned the clinic is extraordinarily busy when you get there, so be prepared for a fairly long wait. 2 sounds v. young for APD.

It's looking likely that DD2 is too young to have this then, hopefully we'll still get the vestibular assessment done, and the APD one in a few years .

Thanks again ladies x

Surprisingly, our referral has been accepted and our appointment is in June, so not even that long to wait. DD2 will have been 3yrs for all of 2 days when we go.

Still can't see how they will be able to test for it as she she's so young, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Fantastic - whether they can test or not at least you will be seen by a sympathetic expert. A lot of them try to dismiss 'APD'. Will you update the thread as to how you get on.

Mumgoingcrazy - Excellent that you have an appointment - please update us all

Will do, thanks again
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My DD just had auditory potential tests where they put electrodes on her head and played clicks in her ear and measured the responses from her auditory nerves, maybe they will do something similar for your DD? (DD is 3.5 but seems much younger and couldn't cope with other tests, she seems unable to process much language at all).

That test is an ABR ? (Auditory brainstem response) its a screening test to monitor for hearing loss and does not require any response from the patients, best results are done with sleeping patients, its usually done to check whether or not the signal is travelling through the various parts of the ear and into the auditory nerve. Can be done as part of the newborn screening, especially if children have been in the NICU.

sorry to hijack but for those who have been to GOSH about this what has been done to help? DS definitely has it and am currently doing the Listening Program with him but wondering if worth trying to get a referral. He's already under neuro at GOSH.

Fanjo:
my dd2 (4.7) has recently had the same test. I was told that this was to test for auditory neuropathy. Dd2 had high level of fluid in 1 ear (bad glue) and the other was very waxy (they said this may effect the test) but they said the results showed no abnormality so therefore no AN. Was told she probably has language difficulties because of late diagnosis (has moderate sensorineural loss with overlying glue ear/diagnosed at 3.6) and to wait to see what her language is like when older (like 7/8). Makes the early intervention ethos a joke .
I know there's something more to it, but have now given up chasing for diagnosis/help because quite frankly everyone seems to have a different opinion (its normal/its a disorder blah blah). I'm therefore relying on dd2 being bright enough and strong enough to cope and she'll be having lots of help from mummy.

My DD lost her speech suddenly at 2.10 and became very slurred and unclear, so she has just had all tests under the sun.

I thought of something like glue ear as she had lots and lots of ear infections but her ears look clear. She does sound/appear deaf sometimes though so am awaiting the test results with interest.

Sorry your DD is not getting the help she deserves [aad]

that was supposed to be

Bumping to see if Mummygoingcrazy's dd has has had her assessment yet?

Wednesday is the day, I'll keep you posted.
x