Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) occur when people have difficulty recognizing and processing sounds and speech effectively. Auditory processing simply refers to what we do with sound once we hear it. Both children and adults can have APD, and it can be developmental or acquired in the case of a brain injury (including concussions and blast exposure) stroke, tumors, infection and age related neurological changes.

APD may cause a wide range of symptoms including challenges with following directions, reading, spelling, and mishearing words – especially when a background noise is present. The disorder often results in academic and learning issues.

The good news? With recent advances in the area of APD, our audiologist Dr. Alexander can offer effective evidence-based treatment options. The diagnosis of APD requires a comprehensive assessment by an audiologist who specializes in APD.

Hearing loss can make everyday communication a challenge. Adult hearing loss symptoms can be as simple as frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the television, and mishearing words all of which can add unnecessary stress to daily life. However, for children hearing loss can have a significant impact on learning and language development. If hearing loss is suspected, the first step is to have a hearing test.

If a significant loss is present, our audiologist Dr. Alexander will make recommendations to help you manage your hearing loss. Recommendations can include hearing protection, listening strategies, listening devices, medical referrals and the fitting of hearing aids. With 26 years of experience and expertise in neural audiology, auditory processing, noise induced hearing loss, sound sensitivity and tinnitus, Dr. Alexander takes a holistic approach to finding a comprehensive hearing solution that works for you.

Speech and language is often used as an umbrella term for communication disorders that can be categorized into smaller areas. Speech disorders typically refer to someone who has difficulty pronouncing sounds correctly or fluently, or is experiencing a general voice issue. Similarly, a language disorder involves a situation where a person has difficulty understanding spoken or written language, or finds it challenging to express thoughts, ideas, or feelings. These types of disorders are experienced by both adults and children.

If you or a family member experience any of the following challenges, our speech-language pathologist (SLP) is ready to help:

• speech articulation and sound recognition
• motor speech difficulties
• language comprehension and expression
• fluency disorders like stuttering
• voice and resonance disorders.

Tinnitus, pronounced "ti-NIGHT-us" or "TIN-i-tus" commonly refers to noises that are heard in the ears or head which do not originate from outside the body. The majority of people are not bothered by their tinnitus. However, for some people, tinnitus can cause stress, anxiety, frustration, sleep problems, mood swings, and a reduction in their quality of life.

Approximately 18-20% of the population experience tinnitus and they report over 100 different tinnitus sounds including buzzing, chirping, whistling, wind noise, humming, high pitched tone(s) and static. Tinnitus is commonly associated with noise exposure, reaction to medication, infection, impacted wax, cardiovascular disease, TMJ dysfunction, aging, hearing loss, exposure to chemical solvents, tumours (very rare) and brain injury.

If someone is experiencing tinnitus, the first step is to see an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus. Tinnitus can occasionally be a sign of changes in our hearing system, and a basic hearing test should be completed to rule out any possible auditory changes that require attention. The assessment also includes information counselling to help you better understand and manage your tinnitus.

Metro Hearing & Speech's audiologist, Dr. Brian Alexander has been specializing in the assessment and management of tinnitus for more than 19 years. For an appointment simply contact our office, and for more information check out Tinnitus Treatment Options.