Having an undiagnosed or untreated APD builds walls around children. Kids that have had continuing trouble listening also have continuing trouble adapting and trying out new things. They tend to keep those walls up and resist change. Your child needs to understand why you are asking them to make certain changes. They also have to feel that they are being set up for success, an experience that for a child with APD can seem much less familiar than failure. Help your child to understand that... ...Read more

Learning is an auditory event that is dependent on a child’s capacity to listen well. That capacity needs to be at peak when a child enters school, not just in the process of forming. Cultivating the ability to listen to instructions and follow directions that are required in school takes years of practice, but there are lots of fun and effective games and exercises to help your children play with words and sounds and learn how to listen. Listening games are especially helpful for children... ...Read more

How are a child’s memories made and recalled? Dr. Peterson, Professor of Psychology at Memorial University, Newfoundland, states, “a child is more likely to hold on to a particular memory if [it contains] emotion.” When parents discuss a memory, “the development of memory encompasses the development of language, the development of consciousness, personality and narrative.” So, why am I telling you all this for Father’s Day? Fathers want to be part of their child’s good and positive memories as they develop and grow. The road... ...Read more

A classroom should be a place where children are able to learn and to have fun without having to struggle to listen. If competing noises interfere with your child’s ability to focus on and attend to what their teachers are saying, they’ll lose the desire to pay attention and learn. Informed advocacy on behalf of your child is simply vital. If your son or daughter has been diagnosed with APD or identified with a listening disorder,  contact your school and ask to set up a... ...Read more