Habilitation and management of auditory processing disorders: overview of selected procedures

This article describes three management approaches that can be used with children with auditory processing difficulties and learning disabilities. These approaches were selected because they can be applied in a variety of settings by a variety of professionals, as well as interested parents. The vocabulary building procedure is one that potentially can increase the ability to learn new words but also can provide training on contextual derivation of information, which is key to auditory closure processes. This procedure also helps increase language base, which can also enhance closure abilities. Auditory memory enhancement is a simple technique that involves many complex brain processes. This procedure reduces detailed information to a more gestalt representation and also integrates the motor and spatial processes of the brain. This, in turn, more fully uses working memory and helps in formulization and recall of important concepts of the sensory input. Finally, several informal auditory training techniques are discussed that can be readily employed in the school or home setting. These auditory training techniques are those that are most relevant to the kinds of deficits most often observed in our clinic.