It’s always interesting to hear stories about the children we treat at Strivright. Recently, Charles, an adorable, blond haired boy, graduated from our program and his mother reminded me how she found us.
She told me, “Charles was struggling as a three-year-old. We all knew he was a bright child, but sometimes I felt like he wasn’t “getting it. I’d ask him to bring me his shoes and sit in his chair and he’d sit down but forget the shoes! I was so frustrated. I had no idea if this was typical of a three-year-old, or if something was wrong.”
At first she worried he had a hearing loss, but a quick audiological evaluation ruled that out. Based on the positive recommendations of friends, the audiologist, and her good intuition as a mother, she made an appointment with the experienced team at Strivright. Charles’ mom heard that the professional staff specializes in Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD), language delays, and sensory integration.
The team explained that while a CAPD diagnosis cannot be made until later, signs and characteristics of CAPD can be determined quite early on. This brought relief and hope. A treatment plan was drawn up, and Charlie flourished in our program. After two years, he graduated and went to his local school of choice.
What is CAPD?
Children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) may have normal hearing, but difficulty understanding what they hear. We hear with our ears, but process with our brain. If the brain is unable to correctly process what is said, the message is lost or misunderstood.
CAPD – The Invisible Disability
Often misunderstood and undetected, CAPD is problematic because many of the behaviors may also appear in children with attention deficits and learning disabilities.
Early detection is key to prevent academic failure, behavior and communication breakdowns, and loss of self-esteem.
Red Flags
• Shows unusual reactions to sudden/loud sounds.
• Difficulty recalling names and other information.
• Difficulty associating a sound with its source or location.
• Difficulty following directions.
• Frequently saying “huh?” or “what?”
• Difficulty with abstract concepts.
• Difficulty screening out background noise (for example, classroom chatter).
These red flags will not provide you with a diagnosis, but if your child or a child you are concerned about does show some or many of these signs, you should bring him/her in to be evaluated by our team that specializes in processing (CAPD), language disorders and sensory integration.
Come join us March 3rd at 12:30 pm for a chance to ask our specialized team questions. There will be a Chinese Auction/Bake Sale at the home of Alyssa and Joey Shamah, which will include an Ask the Strivright Therapist session. See you there.
For more information on ticket sales, contact Tzippy Rieder at (718) 531-1800 x 4756, or email tzippyr@auditoryoral.org.
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Pnina Bravmann is founder and director of Strivright Early Intervention Program and the prestigious Auditory Oral School of New York, the largest auditory oral preschool program in the world, in Brooklyn, NY. She is an audiologist, speech language pathologist, licensed teacher of the speech and hearing handicapped, a certified auditory verbal therapist, and a well-known presenter on oral deaf education, cognitive development, and auditory processing.
