I find customer service to be quite a challenge, especially over the phone. Still, my own auditory processing issues can be frustrating. More severe symptoms than my own might prevent someone from participating in music groups or retaining spoken instructions. We all do this, but some people do it more than others. Several of my family members, some of whom do not have ADHD, frequently find themselves asking others to repeat themselves. (Alternately, if we hyperfocus on something, we might block out important sounds.) Symptoms of ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder We are often sensitive to various sensations, such as scratchy tags or loud noises, and can be easily distracted by a conversation across a room 2 (' Sensory Processing Disorder'). Having ADHD affects one’s ability to process sounds. Someone with APD and not ADHD should be able to focus in quiet environments, but symptoms of the two conditions overlap and intertwine. The person might be highly sensitive to noise and have trouble listening and even speaking, reading, or writing. What Is Auditory Processing Disorder?Ī person with APD has trouble distinguishing sounds, such as “da and ga.” 1 Like ADHD, which impacts someone’s working memory, APD can affect an individual’s auditory memory and ability to process language (' Language Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment'). I have always struggled to follow conversations in noisy areas and was interested in learning more about how this phenomenon relates to ADHD.

1 Their sense of hearing may be fine, but they can have a hard time making out what someone is saying. About half of those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with auditory processing disorder (APD).

Auditory processing disorder in adhd