Possible link between hearing disorder and dyslexia or learning disability

Deafness Research UK awarded a grant to researcher Dr Caroline Witton in the hope of improving treatment for children with auditory processing disorder (APD), thought to affect around 10 per cent of all UK children.

[2005-2007]

APD causes children to mishear or forget spoken instructions and makes listening in noisy environments difficult. Previous research by Dr Witton, based in Birmingham's Aston University, has shown a possible connection between APD and literacy problems such as dyslexia.

Dr Witton's team are studying children from Birmingham and the West Midlands area with APD and dyslexia for three-years, to try and clarify the link between the two conditions and also to develop a standardised test for diagnosing APD. Currently, there is no standardised test for detecting APD in the UK, which means many children with the disorder are identified at a late stage or even missed altogether.

If a clear link between APD and dyslexia is found, then children diagnosed with APD could be offered the same support as those with dyslexia, enabling them to succeed better in their education.