APD Testing Canberra

When Hearing is Normal, but Listening is Hard.

Your Journey to a Fulfilling Life

Does background noise make it impossible to follow a conversation? Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) affects how the brain interprets sound. At Candid Hearing, we provide comprehensive assessments to help you—or your child—hear the world with clarity.

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Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition where the brain and the ear don’t fully coordinate. Even if your hearing test results are “normal,” your brain may struggle to filter, organize, and interpret the sounds it receives.

This makes conversations in noisy environments, classrooms, or busy offices feel like a constant struggle. APD is more common than many realize:

  • 5% of children are estimated to have APD.

  • Up to 1% of adults aged 18–64.

  • Up to 14% of older adults.

Is it APD? Common Signs to Look For

A person doesn’t need to show every symptom, but typically presents with two or more of the following:

  • Listening in Noise

    Difficulty following conversations in groups or busy spaces; struggling to separate one voice from background noise.

  • Memory & Understanding

    Difficulty following multi-step instructions; often needing people to repeat themselves.

  • Learning & Focus

    Trouble with reading or spelling; easily distracted by small background sounds; sounds feeling “blurred.”

A Detailed Path to Answers

Because APD is complex, our diagnostic process is thorough. We don’t just test your ears; we test your brain’s ability to process information.

  • Standard Hearing Test: First, we confirm your ears are detecting sound physically at normal levels.

  • Clinical History & Questionnaires: We take a deep dive into your daily listening challenges at school, work, or home.

  • Cross-Specialist Screening: We may screen for related factors like attention or cognitive processing to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

  • Advanced APD Testing: You will perform tasks involving words, sentences, and patterns. This takes between 2 to 4.5 hours and can be split into shorter 1-hour sessions to ensure focus remains sharp.

Specialized Care for All Ages

Children (Ages 5+)

Assessment is available once a child reaches 5 years old. This ensures they have the developmental maturity and attention span required for accurate testing.

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Adults (Up to Age 65)

We provide specialized testing for adults. We generally limit diagnostic APD testing to age 65, as natural age-related changes after this point can impact test accuracy.

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Collaborative Care

For children, we often work alongside Educational Psychologists and Speech Pathologists to provide a 360-degree view of their learning and communication needs.

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Why Choose Candid Hearing for APD?

Expert Care in Your Neighborhood

With over 18 years of clinical experience, Pooja Bontu and the team at Candid Hearing understand the nuances of auditory processing. We don’t just provide a diagnosis; we provide a roadmap for management, whether that involves environmental changes, auditory training, or assistive technology.

We offer APD screenings and assessments in our permanent clinic in Braddon.