“What Did You Say? Differentiating Auditory Processing Disorder from ADHD in Children” [Video Replay & Podcast #378]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#378), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on November 2, 2021.

Episode Description

Underperforming in school, struggling to follow directions, and missing social cues are all traits of ADHD and auditory processing disorder — a brain-based condition that makes it hard to process what the ear hears. Many children with APD are misdiagnosed with ADHD and given stimulant medication, which fails to help them meet the challenges of school and life.

APD and ADHD are distinct conditions that do coexist, so it is critical that professionals take adequate time and use the right tests to diagnose the conditions accurately. A child with APD has normal hearing but misses a lot of the details of what’s being said, especially in noisy or distracting environments. They may have trouble distinguishing similar-sounding words, which can result in reading and spelling challenges.

There is not one sure-fire, cure-all method of treating APD. Therefore, the key to appropriate treatment is accurate and careful diagnosis. Treatment of APD generally focuses on changing the learning or communication environment, recruiting higher-order skills to help compensate for the disorder, and remediating the auditory deficit itself.

In this webinar you will learn about:

  • The various types of auditory processing disorders
  • How APD manifests at home, in school, and in social relationships
  • The differences and similarities between APD and other disorders — ADHD, dyslexia, and other specific learning disabilities.
  • Positive strategies to assist children with APD at home and in school

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

More on Auditory Processing Disorder

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on November 2, 2021, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »


Meet the Expert Speaker:

Beverley Holden Johns is an author and learning and behavior consultant. She has over 30 years experience in the public schools working with students with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders.  She also was a Professional Fellow at MacMurray College. She is the author or co-author of 23 books in the field of special education, including the seminal book, Learning Disabilities and Related Mild Disabilities. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of America and is the President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois.


Listener Testimonials

“This was wonderful. There may be more of an explanation for my son than just possibly ADHD- thank you!”

“Beverly was amazing. One of the best webinars yet. The topic of APD is so important and too often overlooked and can cause significant issues on the job and life in general.”

“It was very interesting hearing about the possibility that a child who constantly struggles with behavior could be dealing with auditory processing issues.”


Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this week’s ADDitude webinar is…

Play Attention: Enhance brain health and performance. For over 25 years PLAY ATTENTION has been helping children and adults thrive and succeed at school, home, and work. Our NASA inspired technology and cognitive exercises improve executive function and self-regulation Each program includes a Lifetime Membership and a Personal Executive Function Coach to customize your plan along the way. Click here to schedule your free 1:1 consultation to discuss a customized executive function training plan for you! Call 828-676-2240 | www.playattention.com

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ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.


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