Causes Of Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder occurs most often in younger children. The disorder is marked by extreme difficulty in taking in and understanding verbal information, even in individuals with no auditory impairment such as deafness. Auditory processing disorder can also make it hard for an individual to share verbal information in a sensical manner. Damage to the ears does not cause this disorder. It also is not caused by damage to areas that sense sounds, since auditory processing disorder affects a patient's ability to perceive, or make sense of, an audible sensation. While auditory processing disorder cannot be cured, conditions can be improved with the help of hearing aids and work with a therapist. Get to know the causes of auditory processing disorder now.

Premature Birth

Premature birth has been implicated as a potential cause for auditory processing disorder. Studies have shown children born prematurely have an increased incidence of this disorder than those who were born around their due date. However, the temporal aspect of premature birth likely is not the actual cause. Since premature babies tend to be less developed than full-term babies, the true issue probably lies in the complications that arise from such a birth. For example, the nervous system is continuously developed throughout the pregnancy and the infant's first year of life. Premature babies are deprived of the relative safety of the womb, which may impede the development of the auditory cortices in the brain where sound processing occurs. Other conditions related to prematurity may also complicate the development of the auditory system. Without a fully developed liver, bilirubin can accumulate in the baby and cause brain damage.

Learn more about the causes of auditory processing disorder now.