Author: Christine

Most Common Learning Disabilities

A school age child will face many firsts. Most first time parents are so full of hope and anxiety even on this stage of a child’s life. So many plans and so many fears that they will mess up. Most of the time this is unfounded. You would never convince them otherwise, though, until they have their bundle of joy tested. They have this yardstick that could sometimes be impossible to measure up to. And if the child does not, they immediately assume the worst. It sometimes helps to know and be aware of the most common learning disabilities first hand.

A learning disability is a condition that hinders processing skills like basic ones that could include reading, writing and/or math. Most are identified during the school years when schools are active at evaluating students and can catch signs and symptoms early. But some would fall through the cracks and never realise that their difficulties with academics could be because of a learning disability. This condition is not limited to the classroom, though, and could affect jobs and even relationships.  

Auditory and Visual Processing Disorder –  is a condition that delays or disrupts the processing of sensory information. Its symptoms include inability to distinguish similar sounds, understanding oral instructions poorly and have some trouble with concentrating and focusing. 

Dyslexia – This is a disability affecting reading and related decoding letters and sounds. It affects the brain that process language. Some researches are focused on hereditary factors as it is recently determined that a distinct genes could be contributing to dyslexia.

Dysgraphia – this disability affects writing, handwriting ability and fine motor skills. It is a lifelong limitation but manageable with therapy and practice. Some cases of dysgraphia occur in adults after a trauma

Attention difficulties – a lack of focus and impulse control with sometimes hyperactivity involved. Some argue it is merely impeding learning not a difficulty. Experts are linking it with a genetic component. ADHD benefits from medication and behavioural therapies.

Dyscalculia – This is an explicit disability in numbers . With very high level of anxiety in dealing with anything involving math. Difficulty in counting backwards and understanding place values.

Most-Common-Learning-Disabilities1

These disabilities can manifest with different states of progression, some individuals having more than one difficulty. But it  can be managed with the right information, therapy, support and intervention. More and more studies are coming out to help with people who suffer from these conditions. And maybe one day there would be better solutions so that earlier detection and help be given these children and adults with these afflictions.

Coping and Living with Auditory Processing Disorder

Mothers with toddlers always can be heard saying “Pay attention.”. At this stage, their listening skills are developing. It is how they learn, by hearing and interpreting and retaining information. And then learn to respond. A child not attuned to listening might have difficulty comprehending. This could leave a huge impact on his learning. And being unable to catch up with other kids of the same age, this could leave a detrimental effect on his confidence. It is hard coping and living with Auditory Processing Disorder or APD.

Auditory Processing Disorder is slowly getting noticed and being given attention. But it is rare enough still that no definitive cure has been found for it. Still, it is a long way from observing inattentiveness of children to being diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder. It is highly likely some with APD, cases of low academic performance and others have been misdiagnosed as a similar but all too different learning disorder.

It is not loss or difficulty of hearing. It is difficulty in connecting, a lack of coordination of ears and brain. Absorbing information takes longer than usual and since children are not known for patience, expect outbursts and some show of frustration.

Coping-and-Living-with-Auditory-Processing-Disorder1

They are listening but process it differently. Imagine the world constantly with a whirring noise, spoken words are muffled and additional distracting sounds that you would need to rely on clues to determine what was said. Knock on wood can be processed as knocked on food as it is very hard to distinguish between words that sound alike. Jokes and metaphors,parties gatherings even listening to pop music because of the lyrics can be difficult  for a person with APD.

Training, therapy and adequate listening and learning environment is a start. With how technology evolves, it may not be too long before an innovation is developed to improve ear and brain coordination of APD sufferers.

These individuals would often be introverts fearing they would be made fun of. Interactions and social situations are challenging in itself but with APD it can be doubly hard. Left undiagnosed it can make a child question his intelligence and refuse social activities.

Conversations, Anxiety and APD

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is not always recognisable and is in fact, a fairly new acknowledged disability, a ‘specific learning disability’ which if diagnosed by an audiologist qualifies for reasonable services and accomodations.

 

But what if it had gone on for years without being diagnosed? It is relatively rare, and cannot be accurately detected in newborn screening. It usually presents itself or noticed when a child is already school aged when an adult pay specific attention to determine for school readiness. And even then it could be passed as Attention Deficit Disorder or other learning disability even incorrectly pronounce it as autism.

 

It is not surprising to learn that many adult went through their lives believing they were slow learners, that they were dumb, dreading simple conversations, school interviews, and prefer written exams to oral ones and quietly retreat to their safe havens not knowing they had auditory processing disorder.

Conversations-Anxiety-and-APD1

Lectures would be time to space out, phone calls from loved ones would bring anxiety instead of comfort and song lyrics a lot harder to process. These people that do fantastic on tests and abhor bar settings, loud noises, mishearing words on already slurred setting.

 

Getting told that some brains are wired differently than normal, that they process information slower than is normal can make the person less anxious and become more patient with themselves. Most people with this condition are hard on themselves because they can see how easy it is for other people while they struggle with it.

They would understand it better had they been deaf but they know that they aren’t and that is what’s so frustrating. So sometimes they would act out but most times they would experience a lack of self-confidence and retreat to their books where it is safe and their ears would not play tricks on them.

Importance of Auditory Screening

A disruptive boy in class who frequently gets into fights, the quiet little girl who doesn’t seem to be paying attention and the almost four year old child mumbling incoherently; these three children may share a common affliction. They may have problems with hearing.

 

Children with a hearing impairment have a lot of disadvantages to face. Frustration is felt by both the child and the people around him which could cause them to act out. Because of this impaired ability, communication may become limited and experience low confidence and self-esteem. Children will have a harder time learning to speak and form the sounds properly. If left untreated may severely affect a child’s development. Poor academic performance, language skills and social engagement among others.

 

This emphasizes the importance of auditory screening. Most countries have infant screening in place to detect deafness and other would be problems for the newborn. This is critical because hearing helps with the child’s ability to speak, communicate and develop early social skills.

 

But some hearing loss are acquired after the initial screening. This can be caused by exposure to loud noises, infections (mumps, measles, meningitis or whooping cough) or from progressive diseases like Meniere’s disease and otosclerosis, even medication and head injuries.

 

Some of these can be prevented by strengthening the child’s immune system. An improved maternal and neonatal health care and programs to prevent congenital infection. Immunization programs for both mother and child to combat meningitis, mumps and measles, rubella and pertussis.

 

Thankfully with the new technologies available, children with complex hearing problems can have a fighting chance with individualised treatment for their unique needs. Depending on the disorder identified and recommendation from their audiologist, they may be given trainings, therapies, programs or assistive devices designed for their specific needs for them to become faster learners, readers, hear better and improve their quality of life.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme

A lot has been said and reported about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), about its progress and current failings. The media has run hot with stories focussing on the creation of an NDID fraud taskforce, and the furore about funding decisions affecting families and individuals. The autism community was recently shocked to learn of government plans to limit the number of autistic children with access to the NDIS. Cost cutting is uppermost in the mind of this government when it comes to managing the programs associated with this scheme. What was originally designed as a life changer for hundreds of thousands of Australians living with disability is fast becoming something far less promising. This sounds eerily similar to what the coalition did to the National Broadband Network.

Government Rapidly Restructuring the NDIS to Reduce Spending

The NDIS fraud taskforce has been established to crack down on fraud, seemingly, before it even happens. This sounds like some futuristic movie script with Tom Cruise in it. Organised crime will attempt to feast on the estimated $22 billion budget of the scheme, according to social services minister, Dan Tehan. The fact is that a lot of the therapies for conditions like autism are newly developed and unknown to many in the wider community. I sense a pervasive suspicion about what is regarded as therapeutic and that there will be ongoing problems on this basis. You have a government hell bent on cutting costs and they will do whatever they can to limit the scope of the NDIS’s purse strings.

Poor Service & Suspicious attitudes Poisoning Scheme

The ABC has reported on NDIS reviews leaving disabled people waiting for up to nine months to get problems sorted out. Poor service and suspicious attitudes are poisoning a scheme, which should be the greatest thing this country has ever done for this section of the community. The fact that the NDIS was not a coalition government initiative lurks in the background, as possible motivation for their failure to implement the scheme well. One only hopes that a change of heart or a change of government occurs in time to save this worthy national program.

 

How Does the Brain Interpret Sound?

Those of us who have normal hearing would hardly ever think about how we process sound, but like most things about our bodies, it is a fascinating line of inquiry. It is often the case that we don’t bother about things until they malfunction in our lives or the life of a loved one. A recent study into how our brains process sound shows similarities with how our vision works. Rhythmic oscillating patterns pick up vision and sounds and then interpret them via a strobe-like effect in the brain. It has been compared to the flickering frames of an old silent movie, in one learned journal article I read recently. No wonder then that our perception of reality is so open to a wide variety of interpretations by individuals. How does the brain interpret sound?

Auditory Perception is Not Constant, But Cyclical

The researchers in this study pointed to the positive outcome of this strange process being that it helps us focus on the most salient sounds in our environment. It may be like a radar effect picking up the important sounds around us. It, also, assists us in placing the sounds in three-dimensional space. Auditory perception is not constant at one level, but experiences peaks and troughs. We have a cyclical perception of the world around us. These cycles happen fast, though, at about six cycles per second. The researchers were from the University of Sydney.

Sounds Oscillate Between Ears

Sound oscillates between each ear, swapping over every tenth of a second. This sounds like an evolutionary development in human beings, which has allowed us to immediately recognise danger from both sides by continually checking each space. It seems, our eyes and our ears, trick our perception into thinking we have a continuous consciousness, when it is not seamless at all, in reality. The findings showed that auditory decision making, also, oscillates. Building strong foundations within our knowledge of how our brains function will ultimately serve us well.

The Brain Responds to Music

The ramifications of these ground-breaking findings have not been explored, as yet, but may result in some interesting outcomes down the track. As human beings we concentrate limited cognitive resources on specific sounds and sights to evaluate the world around us. The strobe light metaphor is a vivid illustration of our brain’s interpretation of the sounds around our body. It means we are attuned to shifting focus wherever it is needed most. The brain’s plasticity is literally amazing, as it responds to things like music, language, and the sounds around our immediate universe. Sound processing is clearly an important neurological marker in the life of human beings.

 

Sounds Inside Our Sensory Universe

Have you ever thought about how important sound is to your life? Have you ever imagined being deaf? Sounds energise our sensory universe. They fill our lives with music. Sounds warn us about dangers. Spoken language is our primary form of communication. We share sounds with each other, as do all the other animals on this planet. Sounds inside our sensory universe play an enormous role in our lives. What if the sounds we heard were miscued and distorted in some way? How would we cope in that situation? Would we feel out of kilter and disturbed because of this sensory distortion?

The Human Condition

There is a golden rule in the life of humans, we only pay attention to something when it has gone, and we miss it from our lives. Think about it. Love, we, often, neglect those we love and only wake up to that fact, when they walk out the door. Wealth, we, often, complain about not having enough, and only realise how wealthy we were, when we lose the lot. Life, we take it for granted, and then along comes a potentially terminal illness, and we cling to what we have and treat it far more preciously. What about those who never had it to miss it?

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Auditory Processing Disorder in children poses that very conundrum. The incoming sounds for these children are not the same as those sounds for you and me. The settings inside these kids are different and they experience noises as too loud or undefined. Sounds that are coming from far seem near and the reverse can be the case too. As human beings we order our spatial universe via our geolocation sensing of sounds, if these are out of kilter, imagine the ensuing chaos and the panic.

Our Kids Were Suffering

For many years this condition went unrecognised by medical science and was ascribed to a variety of other illnesses and ailments. Things like autism, and later ADHD, were popular medical culprits. It is only in the last couple of decades that Auditory Processing Disorder has received the due recognition it required to move forward to find treatments for this condition. Our kids were suffering, and doctors did not know what was going on and why. Parents were very worried and frustrated at the lack of medical and scientific expertise available. Thankfully things are now heading in the right direction.

 

Parenting My Child Who Has ADP

Auditory processing disorder (APD) affects at least five percent of school-aged children around the world. This condition makes it difficult for them to identify the variations of sounds in words. Moreover, APD interferes with how the children process what other people are saying.

Parenting My Child Who Has ADP

The first time that I thought that there’s something wrong with my 7 year old boy was when I asked him to do a chore. A minute passes before he responded to my request and started on the task. I wondered whether he is having some kind of hearing problem, or was just preoccupied with what he was doing. This got me a bit concerned as I was a first-time mom. Days later, we went to a specialist.

I had my boy scheduled for a hearing test. But to my surprise, he passed with flying colors. Then the doctor suggested that I consult a different specialist as he suspects that my child has some kind of learning disability. And he was right. My kid was diagnosed with APD.

In all honesty, it is quite challenging to parent a child with ADP. I have to be extra patient, especially when instructing him to do things. More often than not, it takes time before my child processes and understands what I was saying. I always tell him that it’s okay; that his brain is wired differently. And that makes him special. As much as I want to protect him from this prejudiced society, he is growing up. He has to go to school and explore the world on his own.

Schooling and Socializing

I don’t know any learning centers that cater children with APD, so I had to enroll him at the local school. I’m quite thankful that his teachers are supportive of him. They always make sure that he is seated at the front. This way, he gets to focus with the lesson. Also, it helps him improve his lip reading skill, which I learned to be helpful for children with APD.

Children likes to tease, and my child was no different. His classmates make fun of him whenever he says something wrong, or interchanges words during conversations. Socializing is also challenging for my kid. He can’t keep up with all the fast-talking during group conversations.

Constant auditory training is helping him manage his APD. We also regularly perform exercises to improve his language-building skills. This being said, the best course of action in managing APD is through the cooperation of other people. The school is doing the best they can in helping my child deal with his disability.

Dyslexia Symptoms What You Need To Know

A common misconception a huge number of individuals have to people who struggle to read is that they are inept or illiterate. With that being said, there are a number of factors that lead to reading disability. One of them is dyslexia which is known as a reading disorder, is characterized by trouble with reading despite normal intelligence.  Believed to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors, dyslexia often occur to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is associated with similar difficulties with numbers. In some cases, it may begin in adulthood as the result of a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or dementia. Knowing the early signs of dyslexia can go a very long way in helping treat this reading disorder. Let us look at dyslexia symptoms and how to identify them.

Dyslexia Symptoms What You Need To Know

Dyslexia has quite a number of symptoms that are associated to this reading disorder. They are most visible in children with signs becoming clearing when attending school. These symptoms include having trouble with reading, writing, and spelling which was mentioned earlier. Other common and known symptoms include: ongoing trouble with schoolwork, difficulty learning a foreign language, poor handwriting, difficulty remembering numbers and as well as trouble following a sequence of directions and telling left from right.

Dyslexia is a troublesome disorder making it important to diagnose the condition early to help children cope with the problem. Parents need to work hand in hand with teachers to find a suitable learning environment that is able to cater to their preference and needs. For that matter, it is important for parents to consult with their teachers on every occasion asking how their child is doing in academics. As soon as early symptoms show up, it is best to not take these for granted and make the necessary adjustments for your child.

People who have reading disorder aren’t destined to fail. In fact, some have high IQ, yet may not test well academically. They excel with oral tests however, have troubles during written exams. There are also a number of dyslexic individuals who are talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering. This is made possible with them being able to learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.

You will indeed not be finding any shortage of dyslexia success stories when you look them up over the internet with some pertaining dyslexia as a gift and a challenge rather than a disadvantage. There are even a number of famous Hollywood celebrities who were diagnosed with dyslexia but were able to find success on their respective careers. This includes the likes of Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, Kiera Knightley and many more.

It is also good to hear that modern technology has contributed greatly in making dyslexia easier to treat. A local primary school has completed the first long term study anywhere in the world of dyslexia in the young and its treatment using lenses resulting in a measurable improvement in reading ability. In other news, an elementary teacher at Griffis Elementary School in Caddo Mills makes good use of technology to help dyslexic kids develop love of reading.

Several projects about dyslexia have found great success helping students with dyslexia improve reading skills while others are raising Dyslexia Awareness through a variety of means. Come join a local support group today!

Teaching Eco-Values to Kids with Learning Disabilities

Whoever we are and whatever our circumstances we can all benefit from learning eco-values; it is our shared planet after all. Our environment directly impacts upon our communities right around the world. You cannot have one without the other. Life is dependent upon a clean and healthy environment; all ecology on the earth requires this fundamental. Kids with learning difficulties are not immune to concerns about our ecology. They may have some challenges that the rest of us do not have, but they are still members of Planet Earth.

Getting kids who may be having a hard time of processing the world around them involved in eco-awareness can be particularly enriching for all concerned. Feelings of empowerment can accrue to these children through enabling them. Greening kids with learning difficulties can also be a healing process for both teachers and recipients. Eco-values are all about experiential things and not so much theoretical stuff; and this can be a blessed relief for these kids. We impose far too much intellectual stuff on our children, generally, these days. Let them feel and touch what we say rather than having to always imagine situations.

Teaching Eco-Values to Kids with Learning Disabilities

Dealing with our own trash is a good place to start. We at the ACM Green Group love to treat our own trash first. Waste management begins with looking after your own rubbish. Knowing what trash goes in which bin is a basic premise that we must all master early on. Too many parents shield their kids from basic responsibilities when they are young, but empowerment comes with responsibilities. Many kids are destructive through their youth because they have been marginalised from the process of living. If mummy and daddy are always doing everything for you, then you are a passenger and not a driver. We all need to drive our own bus when it comes to the environment; our environment.

Get your kids involved in eco-awareness early on and see them blossom. Teachers are doing at primary schools and kindergartens, showing their students how everything is holistically linked together. Children with learning difficulties can understand the connections between their actions and the consequences. If we do not waste manage, then, we are surrounded by our own rubbish. Recycling is a caring and value added process, which these kids can usually comprehend. In fact, recycling can reflect positively on their own situation. Nothing is wasted whether it conforms to expectations or not; everything has a valued place in the system.

 

How Can Parents Who Are Financially Struggling Access Health Specialists?

Sometimes the hardest lot falls to those least able to cope; and that is especially true in the case of parents with sick kids who are living on Struggle Street. How can parents who are financially struggling access health specialists? In the instances when that healing modality is not recognised by government health agencies, and so, not subsidised, it is almost impossible. Desperate parents have been known to sell their possessions in a bid to pay for expensive specialist treatments for their children. Watching your child suffer when you know that there is something you could be doing about it is an unbearable pain.

Many of these parents borrow money from family, when that is an option; but it does, often, put strain on interfamily relationships. Other parents, in this diabolical situation, reach out to friends; and that too can put an end to many friendships. Appeals to church groups, welfare agencies, charities and social groups can raise money in some cases. However, many parents living in relative poverty, do not have the networks and associations necessary to pull together enough energy and material assistance required.

In a number of cases, parents in this situation are reduced to applying for no credit check loans; as a last resort to achieve the outcome they are looking for. Getting that specialist medical care for their sick kids is more important than sound economic management in these dire circumstances. Until government health agencies become less bureaucratic and more able to service the unique needs of parents in this situation, this state of affairs will continue. Is it right, in the twenty first century, that parents who cannot afford specialist medical health are forced to turn to high interest loans containing excessive fees for their short term relief?

Surely, parents in these kinds of heart breaking circumstances should be supported by our elected representatives? Governments are supposed to be reflective of our societal attitudes and beliefs. Do we as a nation support these kinds of heartless, hardline economic decisions in the face of real suffering for children and their families? Health needs to be taken away from the bean counters, and profiteers, and put in the hands of carers and health professionals. There are layers of unnecessary medical procedures being carried out in aged care, when those funds could be directed to children; who hopefully have their whole lives in front of them.

Summer Checklist for Kids: 20 Activities Every Childhood Summer Should Include

Summer is the perfect time to spend a good amount of time with your children and engage with different activities to keep them active instead of leaving them alone to tend to themselves. Listed below are 20 activities every childhood summer should include.

  1. Going to the Beach

The beach is indeed quite a different experience compared to the local pool. Don’t miss this chance to bring your kids with you for them to swim naturally.

  1. Having an Ice-cream

During summer you are greeted with warm weather making it necessary to cool off. Having an ice-cream in a warm afternoon is a perfect remedy.

  1. Camping

You can teach your kids outdoor survival tips as you go spend the night in nature on in your backyard.

  1. Visit a Zoo

Kids feel quite excited with nature trips and a visit to a zoo does indeed pique their interest and attention allowing them to see a wide variety of animals.

  1. Fishing

Summer is the perfect time to fish and parents can spend the entire day teaching their children how to fish in a warm and sunny weather.

  1. Going to a Movie

Nothing beats a relaxing day seated in a comfy chairs and cool air conditioning at your local movie theater.

  1. Theme Park

Kids will surely enjoy their visit to a theme park with different rides and attractions to choose from.

  1. Skating

There are some ice skating rinks that are available all throughout the year making it possible to enjoy the activity.

  1. Sports Club

Summer is also the perfect opportunity to introduce children with to a new sport.

  1. Cooking

You can teach kids simple and easy recipes during summer such as pancakes, muffins, sandwiches, pizzas for them to enjoy.

  1. Bike Rides

Parents are able to enjoy riding bikes along with their children, teaching them how to maneuver them. Don’t forget to equip your kids with safety gear.

  1. Setting up a Picnic

Picnics are best done during summer because of the fine weather. Bring everything you need with your family and enjoy a fun afternoon in the park.

  1. Having a Barbecue

Eating in the backyard as you enjoy barbecue with your kids also a fun option and your kids can help in the preparation and cooking.

  1. Tending Your Garden

You can setup your lawn and bring different seeds for you and your children to plant keeping as they bring their shovel and pail with them.

  1. Paint the Picket Fence

As cliché as it sounds, painting the picket fence with your child is a great summer activity.

  1. Play Video Games

Spend a relaxing afternoon playing family friendly video games with your kids.

  1. Engage in Exercise

You can keep your kids fit and active by engaging them with exercise activities.

  1. Catch the Rain

Ok so this may look harder than it sounds especially since there are incidents where summer rarely ever get rain. However, if you happen to catch one, make the most of it by enjoying it outside.

  1. Visit a Museum

You need to take in mind the type of museum that you choose to bring them such as a science museum to avoid kids from getting easily bored.

  1. Watch Sports Games Live

You can bring your children with you to see a live sports game to get the full experience.

12 Auditory Processing Disorder Videos Worth Checking Out

1.

Here an American TV news item looking at auditory processing disorder in children and showing the example of Ben who struggles from school. For him concentrating in school is tough. Her mom explains that he is not getting the information which makes it hard for him to focus and hard to him to jot down notes.

2.

This video is an example of working to improve Liam’s auditory processing skills – auditory memory, sequencing, etc. She does a lot of different types of activities to target this very important skill. This is a real weakness for Liam and it will be necessary to help move him forward in his abilities as it is equated with overall development, maturity, etc.

3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKaPk8cm85I

The iPad offers tremendous opportunities to build the auditory processing skills of children. In this video several iPad apps are used to introduce children with pictures and help them associate the pictures with noises. This way they are fine tuning their listening skills which are great in particular with young children.

4.

This video teaches a strategy for teaching students with processing disorders. Feedback loop which helps in working with memory issues as parts of information is being feed back to you and this process is explained and put into practice. Basically, the teachers says a word twice and the students will also say it twice and write it once.

5.

This video explains how to identify the symptoms that revolve around auditory processing disorder. The symptoms are varied but the most common ones they find for most people and the major difficulty most people have is hearing and processing what they hear when there is any form of background noise.

6.

This video goes in a little detail to find the cause of auditory processing disorder. It explains that auditory processing disorder can be inherited but it can also be treated. Statistics on the number of APD sufferers are unclear. Educators however, play can an important role in identifying APD sufferers.

7.

Here is another video that talks about what is auditory processing disorder. Dr. Martha Burns explains that ADP is not a problem with hearing. The child hears adequately but the brain isn’t making use of the auditory information effectively. This makes it troublesome to hear to perceiving some of the sounds.

8.

Channel 7’s Today Tonight featured the listening program treating sensory & auditory processing difficulties. The sound therapy program is a specific combination of classical music and sounds that is helping thousands of children. By using music and different frequencies in the music help retrain the brain to hear those different sound frequencies more accurately.

9.

You can see here a simulation of auditory processing disorder exercise. Each conversation takes my full attention, along with complications such as: background noises, and other distractions. This video is made for people who want an understanding of how people with APD deal with the world, and how frustrating it is to just even have a conversation.

10.

This video is about assessing the problem with regards to auditory processing disorder. There are two ways ADP can be assessed. It explains here that first and foremost one must ensure that they have checked the student’s hearing acuity. Then the audiologist does what they call a bottom up assessment.

11.

Background noise is one of the main concerns of ADP sufferers. This video explains that it is absolutely crucial for classrooms to regulate noise particularly for students with auditory processing disorder. In fact, most children also benefit from ambient noise reduction as those children will be able to listen and focus more.

12.

Hearing and processing are key factors in auditory processing disorder. This video explains how hearing and processing works. Hearing basically takes place in the ear within the cochlear. On the other hand, processing is then what happens to that signal when it leaves the ear and has to travel through the auditory pathway.

20 Kid-Friendly Things To Do in Sydney

  1. Armchair Racer in Artarmon

http://www.armchairracer.com.au/

Armchair Racer has a large slot car “museum” which includes thousands of slot cars and memorabilia spanning from the early 1950’s.

  1. Marrickville Waterplay Park

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/outandabout/recreation/sport-and-aquatic-facilities/waterplay-park/

This is a free venue which runs only in the summer months with water fountains and sprinklers providing an exciting recreational and environmental initiative.

  1. Taronga Zoo

https://taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo

Taronga Zoo provides a picturesque backdrop and unique setting that is guaranteed to make any event truly memorable. In addition, children under 4 years of age get a free pass.

  1. Centennial Parklands

https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/

Centennial Park is a large public, urban park that occupies 189 hectares in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney with tons of activities for kids which include pony rides.

  1. Sydney Observatory

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/

At night, you could see stars, planets in the solar system, the Moon or even nebulae that are light years away. By day you can observe the active Sun with special lenses.

  1. IMAX Theatre Sydney

https://www.imax.com.au/

IMAX Theatre Sydney is home to the World’s Biggest Screen. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the highest quality giant screen images with your kids today.

  1. Australian museum

http://australianmuseum.net.au/

The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology

  1. Circus Arts Sydney

http://circusarts.com.au/sydney/

Circus Arts Sydney provides circus classes suitable for ages 5 years and over.

  1. Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

http://www.aquaticcentre.com.au/

The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre has a wide range of facilities to offer hours of enjoyment for the whole family.

  1. Sydney Bike Tours

http://www.sydneybiketours.com.au/

Sydney Bike Tours provides hire a bike services along with one of their 3 self guided tours. Experience all the major attractions the city has to offer.

  1. Powerhouse Museum Sydney

https://maas.museum/powerhouse-museum/

The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Sydney. With free entry for kids 16 years and under, Powerhouse Museum is the perfect family destination for exploring the interactive side of arts and science.

  1. Luna Park Sydney

https://www.lunaparksydney.com/

With Spectacular views of the harbour, Sydney’s much loved Luna Park is a superbly restored 1930’s amusement park where everyone goes just for fun!

  1. Kids at the House Sydney Opera House

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/program_kids_at_the_house.aspx

The Sydney Opera House has an awesome kids programme with circus performances, musicals, films, or dance and more.

  1. Manly Surf School

http://manlysurfschool.com/

Manly Surf School provides surf lessons for kids and adults alike in Sydney.

  1. Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre

http://www.cpequestrian.com.au/

A visit to Sydney is not complete without a horse ride in beautiful Centennial Park. Kids riding lessons are available regularly.

  1. Nutcote

http://www.maygibbs.com.au/

Located in Sydney’s Neutral Bay and now a house museum surrounded by delightful gardens, May Gibbs’ Nutcote is an enchanting venue to be enjoyed by everyone, all year round.

  1. Art Gallery NSW

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia.

  1. Aim For Fun Archery

http://www.archerycentre.com.au/programs_and_activities/aim_for_fun

Aim for Fun archery program is designed for people who want to try archery. It includes the basics of archery with all the equipment provided.

  1. ANZ Stadium Explore Tour

http://www.anzstadium.com.au/the-stadium/stadium-tours/explore-tour/

An Explore Tour is an inside look at one of the world’s finest and most technologically-advanced stadium

  1. Birdwatching – Centennial Parklands

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/things_to_do/birdwatching

Birdwatching is a highly popular activity in Centennial Parklands due to the wide number of bird species that can be seen here throughout the year.