When the Brain Can't Hear: Unraveling the Mystery of Auditory Processing Disorder

I purchased this book because I strongly suspected one of my children had an auditory processing disorder. He seemed to have normal hearing when we tested him by whispering, saying his name when his back was turned, etc, but he had a lot of trouble with following oral instructions, misremembering what was said to him, etc. This book was a great resource to help me understand what my son was experiencing. The book is very easy to read, very understandable, written in a somewhat conversational style with lots of helpful examples.I would have liked more specific information about the different types of auditory processing disorder, therapy for the various types, etc. I wanted to go into his evaluation fully prepared and armed with all the information I could get. However, this book is probably informative enough for the average parent.What I most appreciated about the book was that she was both optimistic and realistic. She made it very clear that much could be done to help with the various difficulties, but also recognizing that not everyone will be able to overcome all their difficulties completely. Realistically, that their auditory processing disorders, even after therapy, may place some limitations on career, etc. But, none of us cannot truly be anything we want to be, as we each have our own areas of weakness and difficulty. I appreciated the fact that she didn't allow the reader to believe that there was a magic pill that would totally fix APD for everyone.As for my son, it turned out that we were right about his hearing being normal and in thinking that he had APD. He has significant difficulty with auditory memory and with hearing when there is background noise. This book gave us a better understanding of what he is dealing with. I would definitely recommend this book to parents of children with (suspected) APD.

Teri Bellis' new book is fantastic... A must-read for anyone whose life is touched by auditory processing disorder (family, teachers, medical professionals, etc). I bought it for myself and sent it to friends and family. I'm planning on passing it along to our pediatrician and our ENT, as well, since their awareness of this disorder could have saved us years of searching for answers! Maybe our knowledge can help someone else._When the Brain Can't Hear_ is a well-written and easily read explanation of what APD is, what it isn't, and what it might be. This makes sense as APD identification often requires a good deal of detective work, particularly when the 'patient' is a child. Dr. Bellis takes a conservative approach to APD identification, frequently reminding the reader not to make assumptions without appropriate data... but she doesn't just say "hey, maybe you have it and maybe you don't." She gives you other options to consider, too, so you're not left hanging if APD isn't the answer to your questions.In reading this book, I learned a great deal about how APD manifests, what causes (what might cause) the different manifestations, and ways to address these areas. The only area I had trouble with was treatment specific to subtype. Dr. Bellis uses a system to categorize types of APD that seemed a bit too cut and dry for me. I had some difficulty identifying my daughter's subtype (her evaluation was done by someone who doesn't use the same system of classification) and therefore figuring out which treatment methods Dr. Bellis felt would best remediate her specific symptoms. Overall, however, the book gave me plenty to consider both in terms of understanding the disorder and better understanding the many treatment options.I highly recommend this book. If you only read one book on APD, this is the one you should read.

This book is a lifesaver for me. It explains so many things! I have to watch tv with the subtitles on because I can't understand the words even though there is nothing wrong with my hearing. I don't like music much, even though I love to dance and am a fairly serious ballroom dancer. I get irritable when I am forced to be in noisy environments, and trying to have a social meal in a restaurant is torture for me.Although I knew I had APD, until I read this book I didn't understand much about it. By giving me an understanding of how my hearing differs from that of others, this book has benefited me socially, in educational environments, and in the workplace. I now understand why I cannot stand to have a radio playing in the background, why attending class in school was often counterproductive (I learned much better just by reading the material), and why I often need to ask others to speak slowly or say something again. Now that I can explain what is going on, most folks are happy to help me in any way they can. Before, they just thought I was hard to deal with.The book contains a vast amount of information. It covers a broad field and unless you are in the field of audiology, speech pathology, or the like, most of it will not apply to any one individual. However, the information that does apply will be significant and well worth the cost of the book.

If you're struggling with APD, reading this so far has provided a lot of context to why I think the way I do and the choices I've made in life. It's truly amazing how your life is changed inwardly and outwardly living with APD. Dr. Bellis is pretty good at explaining the depth of influence around ones psycho-biology APD impacts and how very different it's permutations of affecting ones behavior represent outwardly. I'd highly recommend it.

As a SEN parent who has been looked at as if they are an idiot and as if they are talking rubbish, but then proven to be in the right eg child(ren) diagnosed, to be able to find/read/recommend decent reading material is a blessing and essential because with something like APD, it’s not taught well or even at all. Nor is it supported.Is this book value for money? If you or your child etc have a hearing problem such as this, it’s worth every penny.

It was really helpful reading this book. I recognised a lot of signs and symptoms of APD in my own daughter. I bought the book and read it in 2019 after it was recommended to read it by a fan, Shirley and Sophie. It helped me understand the condition a little more. I just wished it was easier to get a diagnosis in the UK. I was told by the NHS in 2013 that there wasn't a specific test in this country. I later found a Facebook support group and found out there was a testing centre in London. I think there needs to be more support from the NHS to help people with this condition. Nobody seems to understand it, including schools. Thank you Terri Francis for helping me understand my daughter and her condition!

Liked

Very informative and detailed. Explored the disorder and its various forms. The real life examples were useful. I think the book presupposes some background knowledge, but then I doubt you would be buying this if you weren't aware to some degree. Very much worth reading.

Not what I thought, got bored a few pages in.