Audio-Processing in Adults can be age-related or through industrial hearing loss.  can cause difficulties with our balance, posture, muscle tone, communication, and energy levels. When we feel stressed or anxious the brain is often not receiving accurate information. Signs of difficulties with Audio-Processing in Adults include needing the T.V. on full volume, miss-hearing what our loved ones say or getting agitated by repeated noises. At Active Listening, we have listening programmes that can help with the following:

Hearing Loss:  Age-related or industrial hearing loss (frequent exposure to loud noise) is often in the higher frequencies which provide the body with energy. Some research also suggests that people with hearing loss are at a greater risk of developing Dementia. Lack of vestibular stimulation can also decrease ease of movement, posture control, and organization of sensory information.

‍Stress:  Stress can be beneficial in small amounts but repetitive and long-term stress often damages the hearing system. The organs for hearing and smelling are the closest senses connected to the mood regulation centre of the brain - the Amygdala. Stress on the Amygdala could prevent the proper processing of sounds both cognitively and emotionally which places a person in sensory deprivation. The limbic system and the auditory system have evolved together since ancient times.  Stress is also very draining on a person and often we don’t understand why we are so tired. If we feel “constantly alert” or “on edge”, our hearing system is like an overworked battery with no charge coming in to replace the used energy.  

Stress can be beneficial in small amounts but repetitive and long-term stress often damages the hearing system.

‍Difficulties with Audio-processing in Adults:

We hear with our ears but we process sound (listen) with our brains. Not everyone processes sound in the same way but it is possible to improve how we recognise, process, and respond to sounds thereby improving our quality of life. If we “hear too much” it can be very difficult to choose what information to pay attention to and what to ignore. We can also hear different frequencies at different volumes and in different ways through air and bone conduction causing confusion, frustration, anxiety, and poor self-esteem. Symptoms of audio-processing difficulties include:

• Missing conversations

• Inability to follow oral instructions

• Often asking for information to be repeated

• Becoming frustrated or angry in noisy environments

• Dislike some repetitive noises such as people chewing, and scraping dishes. This can also be known as Misophonia

• Avoiding activities or groups of people

• Speaking loudly or in a monotonous tone

• Needing the television on high volume

• Poor academic skills and more

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Learning Difficulties

Learning difficulties in adults are very common. Often the problemwas not identified at school and the individual was never given the right support. Dyslexia and ADHD have several common elements including audio-processing difficulty and anxiety. If you answer "yes" to any of these statements our listening programmes will help.

• At school, I struggled with reading, writing, and spelling, and still do

• I always felt I had to work harder than my friends

• I have difficulty completing tasks

• I have difficulty following instructions

• I have difficulty understanding what I read

• I feel misunderstood