Central Auditory Processing Assessment in Melbourne
Acute Hearing Solutions provides specialised Central Auditory Processing assessments for children and adults across Melbourne, helping to identify and manage listening difficulties that go beyond standard hearing loss.
What Is Central Auditory
Processing Disorder?
Central Auditory Processing Disorder, commonly referred to as CAPD or APD, is a condition in which the brain has difficulty correctly interpreting and making sense of the sounds it receives. Unlike standard hearing loss, a person with CAPD may have perfectly normal hearing levels when tested, yet still struggle to understand speech clearly, particularly in noisy environments. The ears are functioning as they should, but the central auditory nervous system is not processing the incoming sound information accurately.
CAPD can affect both children and adults and can have a significant impact on daily communication, learning, and quality of life. In children, it is often identified through difficulties keeping up in noisy classrooms, trouble following multi-step instructions, delayed language development, and challenges with reading and literacy. In adults, it can present as persistent difficulty understanding conversation in background noise, frequent requests for repetition, and listening fatigue. Because CAPD shares symptoms with other conditions, such as attention deficit disorder and language disorders, an accurate and thorough assessment by a qualified audiologist is essential for a correct diagnosis.
Do You or Your Child Need a CAPD Assessment?
A Central Auditory Processing assessment may be recommended if any of the following apply:
Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments such as classrooms or social gatherings
Frequently mishearing words or asking people to repeat themselves
Trouble following multi-step instructions or long conversations
Difficulty distinguishing between similar sounding words
Delayed speech, language, or literacy development in children
Normal hearing test results, but persistent listening difficulties in everyday situations
A CAPD assessment can be performed on children over seven years of age and on adults with normal hearing levels. If any of the above apply, we recommend speaking with one of our audiologists to determine whether a full assessment is appropriate.
The Assessment Process:
A Central Auditory Processing assessment at Acute Hearing Solutions is thorough and personalised to each individual. Our process includes:
Book a Children’s Hearing Assessment with Our Audiologists
Our experienced audiologists are trained in administering comprehensive CAPD assessments, providing an accurate diagnosis and a clear management plan tailored to each individual.
We assess both children and adults, recognising that Central Auditory Processing Disorder can present at any stage of life and in a variety of ways.
Because CAPD can coexist with other conditions, we take a careful and thorough approach to assessment to ensure an accurate diagnosis is reached.
Following assessment, we provide detailed written reports with clear recommendations for management, therapy, and support strategies to help you or your child cope with everyday listening demands.
As an independent clinic, we are not tied to any manufacturer or program provider, ensuring our recommendations are based purely on your individual needs.
Bulk billing is available at select Melbourne locations, with Medicare rebates available at non bulk billing clinics.
Brands we trust
— what our patients say
People who trust acute hearing with their hearing care
Understand the biology of hearing and how loss affects it.
Cannot recommend them highly enough.
Our Clinics
Ringwood East (H/O)
Suite 4, 26 Grey St, Ringwood
East, VIC 3135
03 9870 2899
Toorak
1039 Malvern Road, Toorak Vic 3142
03 9870 2899
Yarraville
Yarraville Specialist Centre, 277
Somerville Road, Yarraville, VIC 3013
03 9870 2899
Werribee
Wyndham Health Care, 233 Heaths Road, Werribee, VIC 3030
03 9870 2899
Wantirna
Wantirna Mall Clinic, 621 Boronia Road,
Wantirna, VIC 3152
03 9870 2899
Surrey Hills
135 Warrigal Road, Oakleigh, VIC 3167
03 9870 2899
Oakleigh
135 Warrigal Road, Oakleigh, VIC 3167
03 9870 2899
Doncaster
Manningham Medical Centre, 200 High
Street, Lower Templestowe, VIC 3107
03 9870 2899
Cranbourne
Thompson Road Clinic, Cnr Woodbine Road & Thompson Road, Cranbourne, VIC 3977
03 9870 2899
