Auditory Processing Disorder Test [Innovative Sound-Based Approach]: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis
Amanda Unrau Speech-Language Pathologist
November 15, 2024
This free online test is intended for informational purposes only and is not a diagnostic tool. The results are meant to provide insight into potential auditory processing difficulties and should not be considered a medical diagnosis. If you suspect you or your child may have an auditory processing disorder, we recommend consulting a licensed audiologist or healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
How to Take the APD Test?
In order to take this free auditory processing disorder test for adults or children, you need a computer or similar device with speakers, headphones, or earbuds set to a comfortable volume. You do not need to wear headphones, but you want to make sure you take the test in a quiet environment, and headphones may help you achieve that.
The test is divided into five sections, and once you start the test, each question appears one at a time with answer choices below. At times you may need to scroll down in order to see the answer choices below the video clip and question. Be sure to read all choices carefully, because once you click on an answer, the test automatically moves to the next question. You may replay the audio clips as many times as you need in order to answer the question. You can also retake the test by clicking on the button to start the test again. Once you reach the end of the test, you can enter your email address in order to have a report with your results sent to you.
About Our Free Test for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Our free online test assesses your capacity to detect, differentiate, and process sounds—including speech and rhythm. It’s designed to help identify whether you or your child might be experiencing challenges with auditory and sound processing.
The test consists of the following sections:
- Frequency Sound Perception: This section asks the listener to listen to sounds of various frequencies and determine which sound is higher and lower, or put the sound frequencies in order.
- Sound Level Perception (Volume): This section asks the listener to listen to sounds of various volumes and determine which sound is louder or softer, or put the volume of sounds in order.
- Random Gap Detection Task: This section asks the listener to identify the number of noise bursts they perceive in an audio sample.
- Rhythmic Perception Sound: This section asks the listener to listen to groups of sounds of various frequencies and identify the pattern of the sounds’ frequencies.
- Auditory Discrimination Test: This section asks the listener to listen to sound clips of individuals speaking in the midst of background noise, and determine what the individual is saying, or identify the word they hear.
Some other online auditory processing disorder tests or screening tools consist of questions the individual answers about themself, such as how well they perceive sounds or how well they can follow a conversation in a noisy environment. Unlike the text-based free auditory processing disorder tests, the Forbrain APD test is more advanced. This test provides a real-life auditory setting in which the examinee listens to sounds or people talking in the context of noise. This offers more accurate results and a better picture of the individual’s skills, which helps the individual determine whether further testing in this area is needed.
This test was developed with the guidance of expert professionals, including psychologists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, and sound designers. It combines several tasks, each focusing on a specific area of auditory processing, such as sound discrimination, rhythm perception, and more. Although some tasks are inspired by well-known, validated auditory processing disorder assessments, including Random Gap Detection©, Opposite Cafeteria Noise©, Speech In Noise©, PKB-50©, Gaps in Noise©, this test is neither calibrated nor validated and should not be used as a diagnostic tool.
How to Interpret the APD Test’s Results
- 18-20 Correct Answers: This indicates very strong auditory processing abilities. You’re likely able to accurately perceive sounds, pitches, and rhythms, suggesting few to no challenges in auditory discrimination or perception.
- 14-17 Correct Answers: A moderate score like this shows good auditory processing but may hint at minor difficulties in specific areas. For example, you may occasionally struggle to distinguish sounds in noisy environments or notice subtle volume changes.
- 10-13 Correct Answers: This score range points to some difficulties in auditory processing. You might experience challenges with understanding speech in noisy situations, tracking rapid speech, or recognizing subtle sound differences.
- Below 10 Correct Answers: A score in this range may suggest more significant auditory processing challenges, making it harder to follow conversations, particularly in complex or noisy environments. This may warrant further evaluation.
Remember, this test is a preliminary screening tool. For a definitive diagnosis and personalized guidance, consult a qualified audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
How Was Our Auditory Processing Disorder Test Created?
A specific methodology was used to create this APD test.
- Identify core skills to assess: We identified key skill areas that are deficits in those with auditory processing disorder, such as auditory discrimination, sound localization, auditory memory, and speech comprehension in noise.
- Review and design test tasks: When designing the assessment, we reviewed existing APD tests. We incorporated common auditory processing tasks, such as distinguishing sounds, remembering sequences, and interpreting speech with background noise. Each task was adapted for online administration using sound-based scenarios and multiple-choice questions.
- Pilot testing and calibration: Our test was piloted with participants in order to gauge its accuracy in distinguishing individuals with APD symptoms from those without. We used this feedback to adjust difficulty, timing, and question types.
- Creating a user-friendly digital experience: We used Typeform to design a user-friendly digital interface and ensure clarity in instructions and well as smooth delivery of audio tasks. We integrated immediate feedback to examinees to help them determine if further assessment is advisable. Please note that the test should not be considered as a medical diagnostic tool.
How Accurate is Our APD Test vs Other Tests
Most online tests ask examinees to examine themselves and do not present questions that are sound-based or mimic real life contexts, but ours does. It can be difficult to yield accurate results because you may not answer questions about yourself or your child fully objectively, even if you try to. And it can be difficult to know exactly what a child is experiencing. When you use our auditory processing disorder test online, children can take the test themselves. Remember that you need to seek out a professional in order to receive an official diagnosis as this test cannot be used to diagnose APD.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also called Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), causes individuals to have difficulty understanding the sounds they hear. This includes difficulty understanding what people are saying. It is important to note that APD is not the result of hearing loss, but it is a good idea to have your hearing tested in order to rule that out.
If you suspect APD, we encourage you to contact an audiologist for a formal assessment. Treatment for APD typically involves speech and language therapy sessions. Additionally, auditory and language programs like Forbrain and Soundsory, recommended by Speech and Language Pathologists, can help address APD and related difficulties.
Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder
Common symptoms of APD include:
- Difficulty understanding spoken language when spoken quickly or in noisy environments: Competing sounds or fast talkers make it especially challenging for individuals with APD to discriminate and interpret spoken language.
- Difficulty locating sounds: Individuals with APD may know that someone is speaking, but not be able to identify where the speaker is located. This means that they may miss out on part of what is said without having the visual to help.
- Need for longer response time when communicating orally: Because it takes a long time to interpret what is said to them, individuals with APD will need extra time in order to formulate a response. For students, this means that teachers will need to allow them to complete assignments or participate in class discussions.
- Frequent need for repetition: Children or adults may ask conversational partners to repeat themselves, and students may need the teacher to repeat and reteach lessons and instructions in school.
- Difficulty paying attention: Students will have a hard time focusing and ignoring distractions in class, and adults in the workplace can struggle to follow the flow of work meetings.
- Difficulty following oral directions: Students may have a hard time following complex directions containing multiple steps. They may watch peers in order to find out what to do, or they may need the directions repeated or written down.
- Difficulty learning songs and nursery rhymes, and poor musical skills
Incoming auditory information includes music, and since individuals with APD struggle to interpret sounds, they may be unable to learn the words of songs and nursery rhymes.
- Misunderstanding oral communication, especially those containing changes in prosody such as sarcasm or jokes: Changes in pitch and rate of speech can indicate the emotion, intention, or meaning of what is being said. If a child or an adult is unable to pick up on and interpret these changes in others’ speech, they will miss out on major components of communication.
- Problems with reading, spelling, and overall learning: All forms of communication and language are connected. This means that spoken language is related to reading, writing, and spelling. In addition, much of learning in school takes place through oral communication, so individuals with APD will miss out on key information. This impacts overall learning across all subject areas.
Causes of Auditory Processing Disorder
There are a variety of possible causes and risk factors for Auditory Processing Disorder, including genetics, neurological disease or damage, or otologic (ear) disorder or injury, such as frequent otitis media (ear infections). Prenatal risk factors include cytomegalovirus, low birth weight, prematurity, prenatal drug exposure, anoxia or hypoxia, or a buildup of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia).
Diagnosing Auditory Processing Disorder
In order to determine appropriate intervention for APD, an accurate diagnosis is essential.
Auditory Processing Disorder is diagnosed by an audiologist. However, a team of both audiologists and speech language pathologists can make for a more accurate overall diagnosis. APD symptoms can often overlap with other disorders, such as language disorders. When a speech pathologist and an audiologist work together in the evaluation process, they can differentiate between language or phonological disorders from APD, properly identify APD and any co-occurring language disorders, and develop appropriate treatment plans.
Assessment for APD includes a case history, an audiologic assessment, and an evaluation of the central auditory nervous system. A thorough case history includes prenatal and birth history, medical history, otologic history (including ear infections or surgeries), hearing status, cognitive skills, coexisting conditions, communication skills, and educational status. It is also important to conduct an audiologic assessment in order to determine if any hearing loss is present. In addition, the audiologist administers an auditory processing test. These may include auditory discrimination tests, auditory temporal processing and patterning tests, dichotic speech tests, monaural low-redundancy speech tests, and binaural interaction tests.
Treatment and Management Options for APD
A well-rounded treatment plan for individuals with APD is best created by a team of professionals, such as an audiologist, speech language pathologist, teacher, counselor, and parents. The management of APD may include environmental modifications, direct skills remediation, and compensatory strategies.
- Environmental modifications: This involves making changes to the environment. One way to do this is through the use of assistive technology. This includes individual or group listening devices such as frequency modulation/digital modulation (FM/DM), classroom audio systems, or Forbrain. Forbrain is an auditory stimulation device that individuals can wear to hear themselves better. It can help improve attention and memory, and help individuals to focus on what is being said.
Other ways to modify the environment are by improving the acoustics. This may include using acoustic dividers, covering reflective surfaces, using absorption materials in open spaces, and reducing competing noises in the environment.
In addition, teachers may need to make accommodations for students with Auditory Processing Disorder. Examples include priority seating, repeated and written directions, speaking more slowly and pausing frequently, and checking for understanding.
- Direct remediation of APD: This type of remediation includes auditory training techniques. There are a variety of auditory training programs available. Many programs are computer based. Speech therapists can also provide individualized treatment sessions to target some phonological and phonemic skills.
Some of the areas that may be targeted include auditory discrimination (distinguishing sounds from each other), phoneme discrimination (distinguishing speech sounds), temporal aspects of audition (identifying changes in sound over time), auditory pattern recognition (identifying sound patterns that are similar and different), sound localization and lateralization (locating sounds), binaural separation (identifying auditory input in the midst of background noise), and binaural integration (recognizing different auditory input in each ear).
- Compensatory strategies: These are adaptive strategies that help individuals with APD compensate. By strengthening other skills (attention, memory, language, problem-solving), it lessens the impact when auditory information is missed. Individuals also learn to take responsibility for how successful they are and to participate in listening activities by using active listening or problem-solving strategies. Metalinguistic or metacognitive strategies can be used.
Metalinguistic strategies include graphic organizers, phonological awareness, active listening, using context to build vocabulary, and semantic network expansion.
Metacognitive strategies include learning organizational skills, problem solving, assertiveness training, and metamemory techniques such as mnemonics and mind mapping.
APD And Associated Conditions
APD is often linked with:
👉 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
👉 Speech and Language Disorders
👉 ADHD
👉 Dyslexia
👉 Learning Difficulties
Why Take Our Free Test?
👉 Quick: Finish the test in less than 7 minutes.
👉 Easy: Suitable for adults and children (with adult assistance for kids who don’t read).
👉 Personalized Results: Receive an instant report on potential APD symptoms.
👉 Take Control: Early identification can help with timely interventions.
Who Can Benefit?
This test is designed for those who struggle with:
👉 Hearing in noisy environments
👉 Following group conversations
👉 Understanding speech despite normal hearing tests
👉 Staying focused on verbal instructions
Benefits of Early Detection
Enhanced Learning
Identifying APD helps implement strategies that boost academic performance.
Clearer Communication
Addressing APD improves speech understanding and social interactions.
Boosted Confidence
Targeted support reduces frustration and raises self-esteem.
Real Stories, Real Results
“My child struggled in school, often asking ‘What?’ or ‘Huh?’ in conversations. After taking this free APD test, we got professional help. He recommended Forbrain and the improvement has been remarkable!”
Emily Parker
Unlike most online questionnaires, which consist of self-evaluation questions in various situations, our test measures your actual response to specific auditory tasks.
Yes, the purpose of this test is to help raise your awareness of auditory processing disorder if you fall within its scope. We will send you a detailed report for free.
Yes, wear your hearing aids during the test.
This test identifies difficulties, but diagnosis must be done by an audiologist.
No, you can If you find it difficult to complete the test, this may be a sign of auditory processing disorder (APD).
Not necessarily but ensure you’re in a quiet environment.
If you find the test challenging, it may indicate signs of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). However, this test is for informational purposes only. A formal diagnosis can only be made by a qualified audiologist.
Don’t let APD go unnoticed
Take our free, user-friendly test and take control of your or your child’s auditory processing today!
The test is currently in beta form, meaning some auditory tasks may change in the future. The report provides a score based on correct answers, highlights areas where you succeeded or encountered difficulties, and identifies potential challenges based on your responses.
Disclaimer: This free online test is intended for informational purposes only and is not a diagnostic tool. The results are meant to provide insight into potential auditory processing difficulties and should not be considered a medical diagnosis. If you suspect you or your child may have an auditory processing disorder, we recommend consulting a licensed audiologist or healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
References
ASHA. (Accessed 2024, November 10). Central Auditory Processing Disorder. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Auditory-Processing-Disorder/
ASHA. (Accessed 2024, November 10). Central Auditory Processing Disorder. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Central-Auditory-Processing-Disorder/#collapse_2
Bellis, Teri James. (Accessed 2024, November 13). Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/
Amanda Unrau
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