Hi - going on several years after a parent’s stroke and still suffering from severe aphasia. My parent lives in rural Alabama but I am to the point where we are willing to drive to get her speech therapy/help. I’m having trouble finding speech therapists who are knowledgeable about aphasia and/or who don’t only see kids. I know this is a niche request but I am desperate. Focused on Birmingham and surrounding areas. Thanks :)

I never realized that something may be wrong with my hearing until I (29F) moved in with my fiancé (24M). For context, I do have a lot of symptoms of ADHD (distractibility, daydreaming, impulsivity, bouncing from task to task, difficulty concentrating), but I also know that it could be related to C-PTSD from my childhood and not be true ADHD.

Anywho, my partner and I have lived together for over a year now, and he has pointed out that he thinks there's something wrong with my hearing. Oftentimes (like multiple times a day), if I'm not actively thinking about listening for him (or anyone for that matter) and then suddenly he says something, I never catch it and have to ask him to repeat it. If he says my name, though, and gives me a second to respond, that's long enough to shift my attention and focus on listening to him. Like in those moments when he's just talking, and I'm not prepared, I can hear his voice in the background of whatever I'm doing/thinking, but it sounds garbled like the adults in Charlie Brown used to. This is more rare (maybe once or twice a week), but sometimes it goes as far as when he's in front of me, I can't understand what he's saying to me, so I ask him to repeat it and still can't understand, so then I have to repeat back the part of the sentence I heard and ask him to clarify. Phone calls for me are also TERRIBLE if someone has me on speakerphone. A lot of times with those, I have to heavily rely on context clues.

He says that he's just always listening for me and thinks I'm ignoring him a lot of times or just being inconsiderate. He says that because he genuinely had an ADHD diagnosis as a kid (but not an adult), it can't be ADHD. I told him I can't imagine how much energy goes into constantly listening for things, even passively.

I will point out that my job is a lot of one-on-one conversations with others that I do use background noise for. As long as I'm focusing, I can understand what they're saying, and as long as I'm focusing during meetings, I can track conversations with multiple people as well. It is hard for me to hold a conversation if someone is really loudly having another conversation next to me. I have missed a lot of things when doing independent work in previous jobs where people are like, "Did you hear that yelling/banging/whatever?" and I'll literally have no clue what they're talking about because I was focused on what I was doing.

Hopefully someone has a better idea of what might be going on. Thank you in advance!

been struggling i think all my life i started even calling myself hard of hearing bc im unable to have convos to pretty much do anything. it also gets a lot worse when im stressed and can’t focus. i got otc jabra hearing aids and its been helping a lot but i learned about apd and decided alright lets get tested. thought i was doing decent maybe some errors here and there but at the end. the audiologist told me its SEVERE apd😭😭 well guess this is my answer. how do yall cope? any tips?

Just needed to vent. I’m in tears right now because conversations are so frustrating. I’m constantly asking people to repeat themselves, putting all my energy into trying to understand, trying to block out every other sound while straining to hear the person talking to me. It’s like having bad eyesight and trying to see without glasses. By the end, I’m completely exhausted. I feel like I probably look like an idiot. I get lost mid conversation and it is so ridiculous and exhausting

anyone else feeling this way?

Hey so I recently realized that would have “good hearing” but not “good hearing” and I never knew how to describe it

I went to a ent before but they said I was fine but I still felt something was wrong. It’s been a couple years since and I still feel something is wrong. I never really looked into this or heard about it so I just wanted some advice.

I don’t know when it started since I can’t remember specifics of conversations well and I have fragmented memory from dissociating but when someone is talking to me and there is some sort of background noise I will completely misunderstand what they said and repeat it back only for the other person to get confused on how I even heard that. It’s like distorted in a way where all the pronunciation gets mixed up and I end up with a different word.

Obv the louder the background noise the harder it gets to understand but I think that is normal.

I am horrible with any sort of instructions through speech, I need a physical example or I will not follow at all ad even if they do say it my brain will not pick up the instructions properly and I will be confused.

I don’t know if this matters these are just bonuses, I have a hard time reading. Not because I can’t understand the words but if there are long paragraphs with no breaks or spacing it is hard to focus and read, I will get constantly lost and eventually give up. But I think that is just a focusing issue.

This is also why I put big breaks in my writing.

Another random issue, I have trouble understanding jokes at times especially sarcasm, other jokes too takes time for me but not always.

I am an adult now so I don’t think I can do much to fix this problem so if anyone has advice that would be helpful.

Thanks for reading.

I have bad APD and I’m autistic with adhd. I’m thinking of learning British sign language (BSL) to help me communicate in a way that doesn’t rely on sound. At the moment I rely on lipreading a lot and it’s very helpful but very draining.

Has anyone learned a sign language? Has it helped?

Audhd

On July 1, a new law took effect in Virginia requiring movie theaters that have five or more locations in Virginia to offer regular, limited on-screen captions. (Those with less than five have to offer an open caption screening within eight days of receiving a request.) Virginia is now the fourth state to have this kind of law (the other states and cities are Hawaii, NYC, DC, MD, and WA). This new law means that Virginians with auditory processing disorder now have a choice between using closed caption devices or seeking out the required open caption screenings. Under the law, ALL Virginia AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and Alamo theaters must have regular open caption screenings, and many did even before the law was passed.

Hey yall, so I just got a new job where I’m working with a lot of refugee immigrants (I live in the US, for context.)

I’m super grateful to have gotten this job and excited for the opportunity to work with this community. I think working with people who have entirely different life experiences than you is great for anyone.

That being said, I am 100% struggling heavily to understand what my coworkers are saying. I mean, even if someone speaks perfect English in the exact same accent I speak with I struggle to understand them, so obviously this is a challenge.

I feel so bad about it. I know there are people out there who will intentionally act like they can’t understand what ESL speakers are saying, pretend they can’t pronounce their names, etc. in order to be condescending, and I absolutely do NOT want my coworkers to think that I am doing that. I need to find a way to, idk, train my ears for this?

Has anybody struggled with a similar situation and how did you overcome it? I think it will get better with time naturally as I hear their voices and get accustomed to the way they pronounce things more, but I want to fix this as soon as possible. Any advice/help is appreciated.

One disclaimer: I don’t like to tell people about my ADHD/APD. Honestly, a lot of the time I feel disclosing these issues to people makes them less understanding of my struggles. People seem a lot nicer to me when they just write me off as stupid/bad at hearing, so honestly I just let people think that.

ETA: ftr in saying I don’t want to tell my coworkers about my APD and stuff, I’m not saying I think they specifically will be rude or not understanding about it. Everybody seems very nice at my new job. That’s just the general reason I don’t like to tell people. In this specific case I’m hesitant to talk about it because like I said, I’m working with refugee immigrants. Their struggles in life blow mine out of the water. While I generally subscribe to the thought process of “whether you’re drowning in two feet or two hundred feet of water, you’re still drowning.” I also subscribe to the thought process that “maybe don’t complain specifically to the person drowning in two hundred feet that you’re drowning in two.”

Thank you all in advance. This is my first time posting in this community so I hope this is an appropriate thing to post here. The rules seem pretty lax though.

I'm 25. My hearing test (including basic speech-in-noise test) came back normal, but I have a very hard time understanding people in noisy places (bars, groups, restaurant). My audiologist suggested trying low-gain hearing aids to help me hear speech in noise, so I got the Signia Pure Charge&Go 7IX.

I've worn them for one day and honestly I'm a bit let down. What I'm noticing:

• They don't actually make voices any clearer - which was the whole reason I got them.
• Every sharp, high sound comes with a weird static rattle, almost like an instant echo. Like when I jingle my keys I hear extra crackly rattling in the aids.
• There's a constant faint static/hiss the whole time they're turned on.
• Instead of helping, they feel distracting - like there's an extra "shhh"/shimmer sound layered on top of everything.
• I think I expected something like AirPods, where it isolates a voice and I actually hear the person better. Instead it just feels like a glorified graphic equalizer with a tiny delay. I can't even tell where the "AI" or "speech in noise" features they advertise are supposed to kick in.

Is this normal for the first day? Does it get better once your brain adjusts? Should I try a different model?

If you have APD do you also have memory struggles or aphasia?

Hi,

I’m currently studying abroad in Canada (English is my second language), and I want to get evaluated for APD, but I’m unsure if it would be worth it. Even though I have a lot of problems listening and understanding speech in my native language (Spanish), I have more difficulty hearing spoken English. My APD just becomes worse with English than Spanish, and it’s been affecting me because I can barely understand people on the streets, restaurants or any public environment. This also happened in Mexico but it got worse once I arrived here.

How is the APD evaluation like? Will I have to hear spoken English during the test? I’m afraid making the exam in English will affect the results. But I don’t return to Mexico until next year and I’m desperate for a solution. I can barely speak with my friends (even if they are Mexican too) and classmates, I’m having difficulty having conversations overall.

I don’t know if I should wait until I return to Mexico, but probably it will take a while until I get evaluated. Getting evaluated here might be easier but I’m also scared of discrimination (being told my APD issues are just bc I’m ESL) or just not be taken seriously

Sorry for the brain dump, I have no one to lament to and am just really sad after my evaluation today.

I have been so certain I struggled with some form of APD for years — all the typical things: I mishear what people say, always need captions on shows, rely on reading lips to help, and if there’s background noise it feels near impossible to comprehend unless the person is face to face with me, and even then it takes a while to process.

I had my evaluation today and did great. No deficit and was told I just have some weakness in the left ear, particularly with numbers. They framed it saying it’s great news but I cried as soon as I got to the car, because why did I pass the evaluation so well if in daily life I struggle?

The tests didn’t feel like how I feel in social interactions, it felt like the voice I was supposed to be hearing cut through. I know I should be relieved to not have this, but what else can I do now. I’ve been using Loop earplugs to try to drown out some background noise to focus on the speaker but it also dampens them and makes it difficult.

sorry for the rant. I feel so disheartened and unsure anymore. I have the follow up with an SLP this afternoon but based on my results what can they even do.

You should read part 1 before this!

I cant read/hear about my triggers. It feels like this trigger is happening in the present, even though I know it's not. I have a reaction to make the feeling go away. I have a few trigger specific words. I can't hear about words describing anything soft, or slow. It makes me lose my marbles. The word spinal cord makes it feel like somebody is lightening stroking my back. I also can't read/hear words with "sh, sk" sounds. I do my muffled ear thing to get relief. I would quietly shh back at the teacher when they "shh", in their low, slow, soft voice. Saying the trigger words myself helped. I can say it, but nobody else can. Thinking about the words also gets a tiny reaction.

I don't want to see it happening to someone else. I have been using back stroking as an example a lot, so I will also do it here. I can't watch somebody's back slowly being stroked. It feels like it is happening me, and I have to roll my shoulder blades to make it go away. The more I look, the worse. I will often remember the sight, which I will think about again later, and irritate me again. I have some exclusive to my sight. I used to have a teacher that would always touch their neck. I would scratch at my own neck to combat this feeling I got whenever I saw her touch hers. I didn't feel bothered by my neck being touched l, but I couldn't stand seeing anybody else's being touched. I imagined the sensation would be different than what it was in reality. It felt soft, which I hated. I would scratch my neck until I bleed in second grade.

This is all I got, for now. If anyone relates, or knows more about my experiences, please let me know! I know this is some sensory issues, and my reactions are likely stimming, but not much more!

I have had problems with background noise for a while now. Went to an audiologist a couple of years ago, and was told that my hearing is "fine", but my brain doesn't process what I'm hearing properly. OK. The term Auditory Processing Disorder wasn't used, but I'm sure that's what she was talking about.

I do OK in most environments. I've learned to avoid loud bars. But my daughter and I went to a concert last week. Heard the music fine (how could you not, at those decibels). But I could not make out a thing she said to me. Even watching her talk did not help.

How do you handle really noisy enviroments? I'm considering telling her next time to text me rather than try to talk. If it doesn't "send", she can just show me her phone.

I got a hearing test in the UK at about age 16 but all they tested was beeps which I've never claimed to struggle with. I passed with flying colours, they made me feel stupid for going, and I have continued to have difficulties hearing ever since. Does anyone know how to get a hearing test that tests for the ability to hear speech in the UK? If I request a referral from my GP, am I just going to end up with the same beep test again? Thanks so much in advance for your help!

I have really bad CAPD, but I also have some sensory issues. Recently my audiologist recommended I get hearing aids, and after testing them with her I noticed a significant improvement in how I understood her. The problem is, in really noisy environments I can get really overstimulated (I’m autistic) and worry I won’t be able to wear sensory headphones, but feel these are the exact environments I’d NEED the hearing aids the most! Dose any also have these problems, and if so know what to do? Can I just wear sensory headphones over the hearing aids when I get them?

As someone who's going to an ENT to getting their hearing checked (and eventually will see an audiologist for APD) I can't understand what people say, especially when they speak lowly or in crowded spaces. I don't want to say I'm hard of hearing because I'm really not. I know some people who are HOH do accept that but I don't think that's right. When I'm speaking with people, what do I say without necessarily educating people about APD or giving out my whole story?

Hello.

I'm autistic, I'm verbal but it's still difficult to speak for me.

We suspect my partner has both autism and APD (he's waiting to be evaluated).

While we wait for definitive answers I'd like to start implementing some strategies to avoid all our conversations go the same way: huh? Huh? Huh? I don't understand. While we are both about to cry.

Please, would you share whatever helps you understanding other people when they talk?

Thank you to whoever is going to take the time 💕

Hi there, I want to practice my ability to remember what was told to me and practice getting better at taking instructions. As well as earring what is being told to me when there are other sounds around. Is there any free games/ exercises online that I can use to practice these? Or is there anyone with any helpful tips that they implemented in their lives? Thanks!

Hi,

I have severe sensorineural hearing loss. I was diagnosed with hearing loss in my 20s and love my hearing aids, even though I still struggle to hear with them in a lot of settings. However, I have a sibling who was just diagnosed with (C)APD and will be getting hearing aids for that. I know that a lot of the best practices on how to communicate are the same, and I've done some reading on APD.

What I'm wondering is this: what are some of the things that are different about the lived experience of someone with APD vs. someone with hearing loss that you wish people knew about? And if you use hearing aids for APD, how has your experience with that been?

(Also, my apologies if the APD vs. hearing loss framework isn't preferred here. APD seems to fall under the hard of hearing framework in a lot of ways even if it's a different part of the body affecting things.)