Auditory Processing vs. Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss

• The ears have difficulty detecting or transmitting sound.
• Sounds may be too soft, unclear, or distorted.
• Diagnosed via a hearing test by an audiologist. Can be completed with or without participation (ex., evoked potentials are usually completed at 1 day of age).
• Hearing aids or other technology may improve access to sound.
• It can occur at any age and may be temporary or permanent.

Auditory Processing Difficulty

• The brain has difficulty making sense of sounds, especially in challenging listening environments
• Sounds may be heard but are difficult to understand or distinguish.
• It may be considered when hearing sensitivity is normal, but listening difficulties persist.
• Diagnosed via an auditory processing evaluation that includes a language and non-language test battery by an audiologist.
• Strategies, environmental modifications, and targeted intervention may improve listening skills and function.
• It can affect children or adults and occurs with otherwise normal hearing. (Cannot be accurately diagnosed with hearing loss).
• It is typically treated by a speech-language therapist, though audiologists may do this.
• Testing is normative-based rather than pass/fail or percentages. At this time, most tests are available for 6-7 years of age and older.

What Might it Sound Like?

Someone with hearing loss may say:

• “Everyone sounds too quiet.”
• “I need the volume turned up.”
• “I can hear you, but I can’t hear you clearly.”
• “I do better when I can see the person speaking.”

Someone with auditory processing difficulty may say:

• “I can hear you, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
• “I have trouble following conversations when there is background noise.”
• “People seem to mumble, even though I know they aren’t.”
• “I need people to repeat themselves, especially in groups.”
• “I have trouble following rapid speech or multiple-step directions.”

A simple way to think about it:

Hearing loss: The sound is not being heard clearly.
Auditory processing difficulty: The sound is heard, but the brain has difficulty interpreting or organizing it