Auditory Processing Stuff

[forestofglory]

This morning on Twitter I've been talking about what its like to have an auditory processing disorder. I wanted to saving my explanation somewhere more permanent and findable. Also I though people who missed it there might like to read it here.

I started by taking about the book I'm reading now. (Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade)

I'm reading a book where one view point character is dyslexic and it's making me sad about how little rep of learning disabilities there is and how I'm never going to read about a character with an auditory processing disorder like mine.

Other things that are true of me and many people I know but I've never seen be true of a fictional character with a learning disability: I have been an avid reader form a very young age. I had trouble learning to read but once I learned I read everything. Also I am academically successful with too many degrees

It's not that I think this book is doing it wrong! It's just that there's very little rep and a wide diversity of experiences

Then people asked me to write a bit more about how I experience my auditory processing difficulties. So I did a thread:

People have asked me to talk more about my experience having an auditory processing disorder. So a thread! Feel free to ask questions at any point.

Some background: When had trouble learning to read at age six or so my mom took me to get tested. So I was diagnosed with a learning disablity fairly early. Though not with specifically auditory processing disorder until I was 16. Anyway because this stuff was framed as a learning disabity, I didn't really start to notice how it affects my life outside of academics until I was in my 20s.

It terms of academics I struggle with phonetics -- my spelling and grammar are bad. I can't listen to a lecture and take notes, if I pay enough attention to the notes to write them I don't have enough left over for the lecture. I have very good memory of facts as basically a coping strategy for this. (I've had note taking services too, but I honestly didn't find them super helpful)

n terms of listening to stuff I'm generally ok if there's only one thing to listen to, situations with multiple conversations in the same room are hard, as is a lot of background noise. For lectures or like convention panels I need to sit near the front. Back when restaurants where I think I would always try to sit with my back to the wall to reduce noise behind me.

I'm very unmusical because I have trouble "getting music" and also because I don't like any kind of extra background noise

Comments

[lunabee34]

This is interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[libitina]

Hmmm... that is very interesting. I have been poking around the idea of self-diagnosing for APD, but there isn't a lot of information.

Your description is useful and does not map to my life, but it's definitely data I did not have before.

[forestofglory]

I'm glad to help! Also this not the only way people experience APD, I know other people with APD or related issues that have different experiences

[conuly]

I know of one book with a POV character with an auditory processing disorder - the Middle Grade fiction book Save Me a Seat.

[forestofglory]

Thank you! I just checked and my library has copy so I've placed a hold on it!

[littledust]

This was fascinating to read, thank you! I've had students who I've suspected had APD along with dyslexia, but most families do not know how to navigate our horrible systems to get the proper evaluations. Do you remember much about your reading instruction after you were diagnosed with a learning disability? I am a nerd for the subject. *G*

[forestofglory]

I wish I remembered more! I was very privileged and saw a tutor who specialized in helping kids with learning disabilities, but I don't really remember what we did. Lots of spelling flash cards and reading books together? Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[littledust]

Oh, no worries! Reading instruction designed for different learning disabilities has changed a LOT even in the past ten years, so I was just curious! For example, the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching phonics has been around for a WHILE, but new programs have been developed to address learners who struggle with aspects of reading other than phonics. (Ahahaha, realizing I need a teacher icon for DW...)

[forestofglory]

That's so awesome! I'm glad they are finding new ways to help people like me!

My kid is just starting to learn to read, and I feel very unable to help her with all the phonics stuff. I wonder if it makes sense to mix an match or if that would only confuse her.

[starshipfox]

It is dispiriting how few books there are about learning disabilities or other forms of disability. When they do exist, they often feel like educational tools to help children learn about difference -- it rarely feels as though disability exists at all in novels intended for an adult audience. I've spent a lot of time hunting down books that do include disability, but it's hard to find much that's good or interesting -- thank you for alerting me to "Spoiler Alert."

I have autism which often includes an element of auditory processing difficulties -- I can relate very strongly to what you describe! It took me a long time to get properly diagnosed, and for a long time I just thought my attention span was really bad because I couldn't keep track of conversations in noisy environments or take notes in lectures.

[forestofglory]

Yeah, I think I read one other romance book with dyslexic hero, and he couldn't read at all!

I know several other people with autism and auditory processing difficulties -- I think there's quite a bit of overlap there.