Today, we are faced with many labels or conditions that affect learning. Many have a partial underlying cause in our auditory system, including autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, developmental delay, dyslexia, central auditory processing disorder, and auditory processing disorder.

Hypersensitivity to sounds can cause a person to reject sounds as a defensive mechanism and behave as if they were deaf. On the other hand, the same sensitivity can cause another to scream and cover their ears. Learning will be hampered until these sensitivities normalize.

Another difficulty arises when there is fluid in the ear. Since the Eustachian tubes in young children are more horizontal, fluid can collect and bacteria can form in this warm, moist environment. The pressure of the liquid can cause pressure and pain, an earache. Repeated ear infections during the first two years of life can greatly affect the development of the auditory system. During an infection, the individual hears as if underwater and the sounds are not consistent. This, in turn, can cause receptive hearing problems as well as speech problems. Treating these ear infections without antibiotics or tubes will greatly improve learning.

Difficulty following oral instructions and learning to read using phonetics represent only two problems reflected in low auditory sequential processing. When an individual has low auditory sequential processing, they cannot remember a set of information long enough to use that information. For example, a person should be able to look up a phone number or be told a phone number long enough to dial the phone. When parents ask their children to make a short list of chores and within minutes they forget what they were supposed to do and get involved in another activity, often playing, parents often assume this is disobedience. It could be disobedience, but it could also be poor auditory sequential processing. When a child pronounces a relatively short word but ultimately cannot pronounce it, it is often due to poor auditory sequential processing. Optimally, the solution to these difficulties is not to accommodate a deficit, but rather to increase auditory sequential processing.

Another important underlying cause for many of these children (and adults) is metabolic, related to diet/nutrition. These children often have what is called “leaky gut syndrome,” which means that nutrients cannot be easily absorbed for use in the body. There are many options to consider. Elimination diets often eliminate the offending foods. Other diets work to solve the problem; some by repairing leaky gut and others by restoring the balance between nutrients. Families should research the alternatives and find the one that works for their family.

Neurodevelopmental specialists look for the underlying causes of missing developmental pieces and recommend activities and resources for families, guiding them toward solutions.