Questions about APD

First let me say in the week or two since I've joined, I've learned a lot and I'm really glad I joined this forum. Second, I couldn't figure out which forum to go to, so I just selected this one. Lastly, let me say that this ended up being a really long rant and I apologize now for the length.

All that being said, I have a question about APD.

I was first introduced to APD about 5 years ago when I had two students with APD and we were discussing what it was and what accommodations they needed. As the principal and parents were describing it, I realized it sounded like me. Asking people to repeat themselves has become so second nature to me that I don't even think about it, unless I miss it the second and third time. Then I just ignore it and try to figure out what they said on my own. I first noticed the problem when I was in high school, but it may have started earlier. I never bothered doing anything about it, because I always passed hearing screenings and figured it was just part of my ADD.

But, this thread is actually not about me. I have some questions about my son. I may just be seeing things because I spent enough time working in the special education department to know that "defiant" behavior is not always actually defiance.

My husband is getting very frustrated with my son. He is two and a half and when he watches movies on the Kindle, he turns the volume all the way up. We turn it back down, and he immediately turns it back up. The other day, he started doing this with the radio. It has to go as high as possible, to the point it is hurting the rest of our ears. When he watches television, he often climbs onto the tv cart so he can sit practically on top of the television. I used to think this was so he could touch the television, but now I'm wondering if it is to hear better, since there is a speaker on top of the tv.

I have heard stories or seen interviews about how children who are deaf/HoH do this so they can hear better. The thing is, we don't think he has hearing problems. Yesterday, for example, his sister was upstairs singing "Where is Thumbkin" and he was downstairs and he stopped what he was doing so he could do the fingerplay while she sang. I suppose its possible he has a slight hearing loss, but would he still be turning up the volume so high? Could he have APD and be turning the volume up so he can focus on the movie/music and not be distracted by outside noises? Or is he just being a defiant 2-year-old and turning the volume up because he knows it will get our attention? Can APD even be diagnosed at such a young age?

I'm not sure what kind of answers I'm looking for. I'm worried if I mention this to the pediatrician, she's just going to say "he's a boy". He was a late talker and my husband has always been concerned about his lack of speech (he will speak in sentences only when reciting stories or songs; he does not create sentences on his own). I guess I'm just wondering whether this behavior is a symptom of APD? His pediatrician does not do hearing screenings at this age (I don't know if she does them at all, actually) and he does have other "defiant" behavior. I guess I'm just a frustrated mother trying to figure out how to understand my son.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this with their child. I feel as if I am spending so much time yelling at my son, when maybe he is trying to tell me something. But, he wont/cant tell me what that something is.

I can't help with the APD part but I do know that with my nephew- his hearing was fine and didn't do any of what you mentioned (that I know of) but he was definitely a very late talker- he didn't really start speaking in full sentences until he was about 3 I think. Did do speech therapy. He's 11 now and we can't shut him up! His sister was an early talker (14 mos I think) but she is not like him.. she's an introvert opposed to his extrovert.

First of all I have to say that your husband is acting like a two years old. He should be concern about this son hearing you said he was late talker and now he is turning the TV up. Most small kids do not like sounds that are very loud so I would think your son need the TV turned to understand what is being said. Some kids can hear fine but not understand what is being.
You should your child to get some testing done on his hearing before he start going to school.

see National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities — lot of useful publications. see your county's special education department Childfind program. see Milford Public Schools: Special Education for Milford CT

Many guys with disabled kid are embarrassed they are not perfect and thus not macho. Same for some grandparents. Tough.

wanna know what's weird? I look like a type of person that looks APD-ish
(yes, I had identical audiograms through my school years LOL)

so that's a weirdo for you.
(same story here when my parents noticed I didn't respond to my name being called)

for me personally, I can say that I was very delayed in speech and had language problems. I was in speech therapy for some years and have speech differences. I was diagnosed with a learning disability in college and likely have auditory processing issues based on my experiences/difficulties, but they didn't know about APD back in the late 70's/80's.
as a child I always wanted to sit close to the tv - on the edge of the bed in my folk's bedroom where there was a tv on the dresser right across from the end of the bed, for example - and my folks always wanted me to move back toward the pillows.

Thank you everyone for the advice. After talking to my husband, we are going to contact Birth 2 Three (the local social services for kids 0-3). I feel a little silly doing it, since when I called for my daughter's delayed speech, she started talking the following week and I don't want them to think I'm some sort of nervous Nelly mother. On the other hand, my husband has been concerned about my son's delayed speech for some time and he was all for me calling.

I'm trying to look at it this way. Either they tell me there is some sort of issue that requires us to work with them and maybe I will be better able to communicate with my son. Or, they tell me nothing is wrong, but maybe they have some suggestions on how to handle his "acting out".

Sorry I'm a bit late jumping in on this.

As my signature says, I was born with Right side SSD, and then acquired HL on my left side as well. I also have APD (which wasn't diagnosed until adulthood, but I've had my entire life).

The first thing I'd recommend is requesting a complete audiological assessment done by a paediatric Audiologist (you want someone who specializes in children!). They are able to look for not only hearing loss, but signs of other issues such as possible APD etc.

It's important to understand that APD isn't a "we do a test and you have APD or not" type condition. The tests that are available for children and adults aren't very accurate - they are a "guess" at best. For older children and adults APD is typically diagnosed by a combination of hearing tests and an in depth conversation/assessment with an Audiologist who has additional training in "communication disorders".

Regardless of any audiological or neurological findings (APD is a Central Nervous System Disorder) you may want to look into adding some ASL signs into your family's life. It certainly won't harm anything and may well do a great deal of good. (My nieces are hearing, but have signed since they were babies - they have an absolutely amazing spoken vocabulary - well beyond their age range).

Anij said:

The first thing I'd recommend is requesting a complete audiological assessment done by a paediatric Audiologist (you want someone who specializes in children!). They are able to look for not only hearing loss, but signs of other issues such as possible APD etc.

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I was under the impression it would not be a very accurate test in a 2year old. Well hearing loss they could test for. But other tests wouldnt be accurate.

Regardless of any audiological or neurological findings (APD is a Central Nervous System Disorder) you may want to look into adding some ASL signs into your family's life. It certainly won't harm anything and may well do a great deal of good. (My nieces are hearing, but have signed since they were babies - they have an absolutely amazing spoken vocabulary - well beyond their age range).

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I have been signing haphazardly with my kids since birth but more in the last few months since I can barely understand some of my sons words. (Cereal and zero sound alike for example). Although he only signs 2 or 3 words, I do think he understands me a little better when i sign to him. I used to be hesitant to sign in public, but I am signing to him more and getting over my hesitation.

Thanks for the advice and info.