PREVALENCE

The disorder can affect anyone but is estimated to appear in as many as 5 to 7 percent of school-age children, according to the Auditory Processing Disorder Foundation, with boys diagnosed twice as often as girls; however, according the National Institutes of Health, in children with learning disabilities this number has been found to be closer to 43%.

Though APD awareness has increased in recent years, confusion about the disorder abounds. It can appear simultaneously with conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, so it’s important that those with APD symptoms get evaluated by an audiologist for proper diagnosis.