CAP Testing and Functional Hearing Improvement
At Archer Hearing Centre, we offer central auditory processing disorder tests (also known as CAP testing) and functional hearing improvement. We understand that CAP can be difficult, but we’re here to help you every step of the way.
What is Central Auditory Processing Disorder?
Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), also commonly known as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), is a term used for hearing difficulties due to dysfunction in the central auditory nervous system.
For people with CAPD, even though the ears are working well, there is a problem with the way the brain processes and interprets auditory input. This makes it hard to differentiate between sounds and comprehend what you’re hearing.
Most people with CAPD/APD have normal results on standard hearing tests, but may struggle with:
- Hearing speech clearly in the presence of background noise
- Understanding fast or muffled speech
- Localizing sound (determining what direction a sound came from)
- Following verbal commands or directions, especially multi-step directions
- Sustaining attention
- Recalling what is said; remembering a list or sequence
- Absorbing auditory information when no visual information is available
- Reading, comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, or other speech/ language skills
Those with CAPD might also:
- Take a longer time to respond to questions or seem to need more time to process information
- Become mentally fatigued more easily than peers
- Have low academic performance in school despite being bright and intelligent
- Appear distracted or have trouble focusing in class (teachers may express concerns)
Do You Offer CAP Assessments for Kids?
Yes! We generally do CAP testing for patients 7 to 50 years of age using the SCAN-3 test battery. However, we also offer an iPad-based assessment called the Acoustic Pioneer – Feather Squadron for children who need it. If you’re interested in CAP testing for kids aged 5-6 or you’d like to explore the iPad option, please call our clinic at (905) 201-2246 to discuss the details.
What to Expect During Your Central Auditory Processing Disorder Test
Step 1
Consultation
When you visit us for a central auditory processing disorder test in Markham, we start by discussing your hearing history and concerns. By understanding your unique needs, we can tailor the assessment to you.
Step 2
Comprehensive Evaluation
CAP testing can help detect CAPD and identify the specific listening situations that are problematic for you. We conduct the SCAN-3 test battery, which includes:
- Auditory figure-ground (speech-in-noise)
- Filtered words
- Competing words – free recall
- Competing words – directed ear recall
- Competing sentences
- Time-compressed sentences
- Random gap detection
Step 3
Results and Guidance
After your CAP assessment, the audiologist will walk you through the results, answer your questions, and recommend the appropriate next steps. Your audiologist will also provide a full report explaining the results and recommendations.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder Treatment Options
Your audiologist will create a customized treatment plan based on your specific challenges and the results of your testing. They’ll also provide a full report you can discuss and share with any other professionals involved in your care. Interventions may include workplace or classroom accommodations, environmental modifications, auditory training, and/or the use of technologies, including low-gain hearing aids or FM systems.
