How Autism, ADHD and APD Overlap
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) frequently overlap. Many autistic and ADHD learners can hear soft sounds on an audiogram, but still struggle to understand speech in noise, follow rapid spoken instructions, or keep up in group discussions. These listening difficulties are not just “behaviour” or “inattention” – they often reflect a genuine central auditory processing weakness.
Research consistently shows that a significant proportion of autistic and ADHD learners have central auditory processing difficulties, even when standard hearing tests are normal. Studies also link these listening weaknesses with increased classroom fatigue, poorer academic outcomes and social communication challenges, underscoring the value of early assessment and support. When APD is identified and addressed, we often see better access to teaching, reduced listening fatigue, and improved participation at school, work and home.

Research in autistic populations shows that when auditory training is specific, intensive and linked to real-world tasks (for example, speech-in-noise and dichotic listening), learners can show measurable gains in listening test scores, more consistent classroom behaviour, and easier communication in everyday noisy environments. These benefits are even stronger when auditory training is combined with practical environmental supports, such as teacher-based strategies or remote microphone technology, to reduce effort while the brain is learning to process sound more efficiently.

Our Targeted Auditory Training Approach
At Melody Hear for You, our goal is to bridge the gap between diagnosis and functional change. We provide clear reports, concrete classroom and workplace recommendations, and, where appropriate, a structured programme of auditory training aimed at turning “I can hear” into “I can understand” for autistic and ADHD clients with APD.

1 Teasing Apart Auditory, Language and Attention Factors
We use an evidence-based, deficit-targeted auditory training approach rather than generic “sound therapy”. Assessment is designed to tease apart what is mainly auditory, what is mainly language, and what is mainly attention/memory, using a combination of case history, questionnaires and structured listening tests. This is particularly important for autistic and ADHD clients, where the same classroom behaviour (e.g. not following instructions) may have different underlying causes.

2 What Skills We Target
Once we understand the listening profile, we design a personalised training plan that targets the skills most closely linked to everyday difficulty, for example:
• understanding speech in background noise
• using both ears together (dichotic listening and binaural integration)
• processing rapid changes in speech sounds
• phonological awareness and phoneme discrimination
• auditory memory and sequencing

3 How Training Is Delivered
Depending on the deficits identified at the assessment, auditory training may be delivered online, one-to-one by an accredited audiologist, using structured auditory activities and also include home exercise with tablet/computer-based programmes such as Acoustic Pioneer™ and other evidence-based tools. For milder auditory processing disorder, only tablet/computer-based programmes alone are recommended, and the progress of using these programmes is monitored closely and discussed regularly with an audiologist. For many autistic and ADHD clients, this focused, game-like format is easier to tolerate than long, traditional clinic sessions.