Patient:  A.D.

Age: 8 years 2 months

Gender: Female

A.D. was evaluated for auditory processing disorder due to poor academic achievement and delayed expressive and receptive language.  She is functioning below grade level, currently in the second grade, and struggling with math, and visual tracking of words while reading.  She frequently misunderstands verbal information, frequently says “huh” and “what?,” and  is described as easily distracted.  Her homework is belabored.  Socially, she interrupts others while they are speaking, does not understand personal space and tends to be overly sensitive.

Developmental milestones were delayed, but her mother could not give precise time frames.

A.D. was delivered by emergency C-section due to fetal heart rate decrease, and was born with ventral septal defect which closed on its own. She was born at 7 pound 5 ounces near full term and was admitted to the NICU.

A.D. is now a healthy child with some food allergies and a history of chronic middle ear problems.  She snores, has difficulty breathing through her nose and has enlarged tonsils.

A.D. appears to be hypersensitive to sound and light.  She complains of visual problems. The optometrist’s report shows 20/20 vision and no other abnormalities.

She separated easily for the evaluation, was friendly and cooperative. She had difficulty maintaining eye contact, but followed conversation appropriately when given adequate time to respond. Her attention waned easily, she required frequent breaks but the evaluation results are considered accurately reflection of her auditory development.

Case donated by Elyssa McRae, AuD, then of Nova Southeastern University