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Auditory System

What is the Auditory System?

The auditory system consists of three different parts of the ear (the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear) and the brain. Sound waves from the environment are channeled by the outer ear and sent through to the middle ear, hitting the eardrum. The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate moving three tiny bones in the inner ear attached on the other side of the eardrum. The vibrations from these bones then create waves within the cochlea, a spiral shaped organ lined with tiny hairs and filled with liquid. The movement of these hairs is what causes electrical signals that get sent to your brain to recognize and interpret the sound you are hearing. 

[L’audition en bref. 2014 ] 

What is Auditory processing?

The Auditory processing system is the way of processing sounds that we hear in our environments through our ears. Auditory processing represents the way we recognize, understand and make meaning of the sounds, and has nothing to do with the actual organs for hearing. Therefore, an individual can still have problems with auditory processing even if they have perfect hearing. Auditory processing is a critical component in being able to communicate. Auditory processing disorders affect the way an individual is able to process and make meaning of the sounds. Generally, students with an auditory processing disorder may encounter difficulties with their academics, social skills and communication.   

[Neuroscientifically Challenged, 2015] 

There are several different forms of auditory processing disorders and an individual can have just one or all of them. They include: 

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  • Auditory discrimination:  

    • The ability to notice, compare and distinguish between distinct and separate sounds. (i.e. being able to distinguish between the words 'fifteen' and 'fifty'). 

  • Auditory figure-ground discrimination:  

    • The ability to tune out background noises in a noisy setting and focus on a specific or important sound. (i.e. being able to hold and focus on a conversation with somebody in a loud room)

  • Auditory memory:  

    • The ability to remember and recall what you’ve heard.

  • Auditory sequencing:  

    • The ability to understand the order of sounds and words. 

Hypersensitivity to Input

Signs of Dysfunction

Hyposensitivity to Input

  • Yell, scream, cover their ears, hide or complain of pain when they hear loud noises i.e. fire alarm or school bell

  • Are disturbed by certain pitches 

  • Be easily distracted by noises  

  • Bothered easily by environmental sounds (i.e. construction, beeping, clock ticking, humming of lights or equipment) 

  • Startled easily by loud and unexpected sounds   

  • Avoid places or events where there are lots of sounds or are particularly loud 

  • Fearful of certain sounds (i.e. vacuum, hairdryer, dogs barking) 

  • Frequently asks people to be quiet 

  • Frequently covers ears to auditory input 

  • Doesn't responding to loud noises or certain sounds

  • Often does not respond to verbal cues or when name is called  

  • Appears to make noises for no reason  

  • May talk out-loud or too themselves 

  • Makes noises that are 'too loud' for other people without realizing they are being loud (i.e. talking or playing music loudly).  

  • Sometimes isn't able to determine where sounds are coming from  

  • Frequently needs directions repeated and asks "What?" or says "huh?" 

  • Works efficiently surrounded by loud noise  

  • Have difficulty understand what people are saying to them and distinguishing words that sound similar 

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