Brief Descriptions for
ABR & APD

ABR Description

ABR stands for Auditory Brainstem Response test (aka BAER or BSER). This unique test is performed on persons of any age and does not require sedation. An ABR can identify a sensorineural hearing loss, which if undetected may interfere with hearing as well as speech and language development. With this test, several electrodes are attached to the patient’s forehead and ears, allowing the Audiologist to monitor how well sound travels along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brainstem. The test usually takes anywhere from 2-3 hours depending on if the person is awake or asleep.

APD Description

Auditory Processing Disordes (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), often includes one or more of the following difficulties:

  • Difficulty identifying where speech is coming from

  • Difficulty hearing the differences between the sounds of speech

  • Difficulty understanding differences between questions, directions, and jokes

  • Difficulty listening in noisy situations

  • Difficulty understanding, remembering, or following instructions

  • Difficulty focusing attention on one speaker at a time

APD is often confused with disorders such as true hearing loss, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and even Autism.