Harley Street and Wigmore Street, London
Verified Hearing & Tinnitus Clinic
Private Auditory Processing Assessment London
If your hearing test came back normal but you still struggle to understand speech, follow conversations in noise, or process what people say, the problem is not your ears. It is how your brain decodes what your ears send.
We offer a complete APD Assessment and Treatment Programme for children from age 3.5 and adults, at our Harley Street and Wigmore Street clinics. We do not just diagnose. We treat.
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What is auditory processing disorder and how do we treat it?
3 minutes
APD Assessment and Treatment Programme
Children from 3.5 years and adults
- Full diagnostic hearing assessment
- Speech-in-noise testing
- Dichotic listening assessment
- Temporal processing tasks
- Auditory figure-ground testing
- Pre-assessment questionnaires
- Full written clinical report same day
- Treatment programme pathway
Monday to Saturday, including evenings until 7pm
Before Anything Else
If you are here, you have probably already been through the system
You or someone you care about has been told, more than once, that their hearing is fine. The audiogram came back normal. And yet the problem persists.
You find it genuinely hard to follow conversations in restaurants or group settings. You ask people to repeat themselves. You struggle on the phone. You zone out in meetings not because you are distracted but because the effort of following what is being said is exhausting. You hear speech clearly in quiet, one-to-one conversations, but the moment there is background noise or more than one person speaking, the signal falls apart.
Some people have been told they have ADHD. Some have been assessed for autism. Some have been told it is anxiety, or that they need to concentrate more. Some have spent years in educational settings where the difficulty was attributed to laziness or inattention.
Auditory Processing Disorder is frequently missed because a standard hearing test does not test it. It is frequently misattributed because its symptoms overlap with conditions that are more commonly known. And it is frequently undertreated because most clinicians who diagnose it do not offer a structured treatment programme alongside.
This page explains what APD actually is, how it is diagnosed correctly, and how it is treated. If you recognise the symptoms described here, you have come to the right place.
5-10%
Of school-aged children are estimated to have some degree of auditory processing difficulty
50%
Of children with ADHD are also estimated to have auditory processing disorder
70%
Of individuals with dyslexia are estimated to have coexisting APD
APD frequently coexists with other conditions, but it is also frequently mistaken for them. The only way to know whether APD is present is a full clinical assessment by a qualified audiologist.
Symptom Checklist
Recognise any of these?
These are the experiences most commonly described by people who are later diagnosed with auditory processing disorder. They apply to both adults and children, though the context differs.
Adults commonly describe
- "I can hear you, but I can't understand what you're saying"
- Struggling to follow conversations in restaurants, open-plan offices, or group settings
- Difficulty on the phone, particularly if there is any background noise
- Asking people to repeat themselves, even when you heard the volume clearly
- Exhaustion after meetings, social events, or any situation requiring sustained listening
- Difficulty following fast speakers, accents, or anyone who speaks quietly
- Forgetting verbal instructions or spoken information shortly after hearing it
- Difficulty following TV or films without subtitles, especially if background music is playing
- Having been told your hearing test came back completely normal
Children and young people commonly show
- Difficulty following instructions in class or at home, especially when given verbally
- Appearing inattentive or distracted, particularly in noisy environments like the classroom
- Asking "what?" or "can you repeat that?" very frequently
- Difficulty with phonics, reading, or spelling despite adequate intelligence
- Struggling to hear what is said when there is background noise, TV on, or multiple people talking
- Difficulty telling the difference between similar-sounding words (e.g. "cat" vs "bat")
- Exhaustion after school or activities requiring sustained listening
- Being described as a "dreamer" or told to pay attention when they are genuinely trying
- Hearing test results that came back within normal limits
If several of these describe your experience, a clinical APD assessment is the appropriate next step. The checklist above is not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified audiologist using a validated test battery can diagnose auditory processing disorder.
Book Your AssessmentUnderstanding APD
Auditory processing disorder is not a hearing problem. It is a brain processing problem.
APD stands for Auditory Processing Disorder. It refers to a difficulty in how the brain processes and interprets the sounds it receives from the ears, despite those ears functioning normally. The ears are doing their job. The central auditory nervous system is not doing its job correctly.
Sound enters the ear, is converted into neural signals by the cochlea, and travels through the auditory brainstem to the auditory cortex. Along that journey, the brain performs a series of complex processing tasks: it separates speech from background noise, organises sounds in the correct sequence, stores them briefly in auditory working memory, and extracts meaning from them. In APD, one or more of these functions is impaired.
This is why a standard audiogram almost always comes back normal in APD. The audiogram tests the sensitivity of the ears at different frequencies. It does not test the brain's ability to process, organise, or interpret what those ears receive. You can have excellent peripheral hearing and significant auditory processing difficulty simultaneously.
This is the single most important clinical fact that most people with APD have never been told. Their hearing test was normal. Their audiologist concluded there was no hearing problem. And technically, that was correct. But no one tested what happens to the sound after it leaves the ear.
In APD, this is normal
- Peripheral hearing sensitivity
- The audiogram result
- The physical structures of the ear
- The ability to detect sounds at volume
- Hearing in quiet, simple environments
In APD, this is impaired
- Separating speech from background noise
- Processing and distinguishing similar speech sounds
- Retaining spoken information in working memory
- Following speech in noisy environments
- Processing speech from multiple simultaneous sources
The Most Common Reason APD Goes Undetected
APD is frequently mistaken for, or occurs alongside, other conditions
This is not a failure of intelligence or effort. It is a consequence of overlapping symptoms that are very difficult to distinguish without the right test battery.
APD and ADHD
APD and ADHD share many surface symptoms: difficulty following instructions, appearing inattentive, struggling to focus in noisy environments. Research suggests approximately 50% of children with ADHD also have auditory processing disorder. If ADHD medication has not resolved your listening difficulties, APD may be a separate contributing factor that requires its own assessment and treatment.
APD and Dyslexia
Research suggests that up to 70% of individuals with dyslexia have coexisting auditory processing disorder. Both conditions affect phonological processing, sound discrimination, and the ability to decode spoken language. A diagnosis of dyslexia does not rule out APD, and the presence of APD can significantly compound dyslexic difficulties that go unaddressed if only one condition is treated.
APD and Autism
Sensory processing difficulties, including auditory ones, are common in autism spectrum conditions. APD can coexist with autism independently. Many autistic individuals also have auditory processing difficulties that are attributed entirely to their autism without being separately assessed or treated. If auditory difficulties are significantly impacting daily function, a dedicated APD assessment is appropriate regardless of existing diagnoses.
Having ADHD, dyslexia, or autism does not mean you do not also have APD
These conditions are not mutually exclusive. APD can exist alongside any of them. It can also be present in people who have none of them. The only way to know whether APD is contributing to your listening difficulties is a full clinical assessment by a qualified audiologist using a validated APD test battery. That is what we offer.
The Assessment
What a proper APD assessment involves
The APD assessment is more extensive than a standard hearing test. It takes 2 to 3 hours and uses a validated battery of tests designed to identify specific deficits in central auditory processing. The result is a full written clinical report on the same day.
Pre-assessment questionnaires
Before your appointment, you complete a set of detailed questionnaires covering listening difficulties across different environments, impact on daily function, developmental and educational history, and existing diagnoses or conditions. This informs how results are interpreted in clinical context.
Full diagnostic hearing assessment
Peripheral hearing is tested first, including pure-tone audiometry, bone conduction, and tympanometry. This confirms normal peripheral hearing (which is expected in APD) and rules out hearing loss as the primary cause of listening difficulties. This is a diagnostic prerequisite for any APD assessment.
Speech-in-noise testing
Tests the ability to understand speech in the presence of competing background noise. This is one of the most sensitive measures of auditory processing function and directly replicates the most difficult real-world listening situations that APD patients describe.
Dichotic listening tasks
Different speech stimuli are presented simultaneously to each ear. This assesses binaural integration and separation, revealing how well the auditory system can process competing acoustic information arriving from both sides simultaneously.
Temporal processing assessment
Tests the brain's ability to process the timing of sounds, including distinguishing the order of sounds and detecting brief gaps in sound. Temporal processing deficits directly affect the ability to distinguish between similar speech sounds and follow fast speech.
Auditory figure-ground testing
Assesses the ability to identify a primary signal (speech) against a background of competing noise or signals. This maps directly to the difficulties APD patients describe in classrooms, offices, and social environments.
Written clinical report, same day
All results are compiled into a full written clinical report, identifying which specific processing functions are impaired and the nature of those deficits. The report includes the recommended treatment pathway and can be shared with schools, employers, GPs, or other clinicians as needed.
The assessment is available for children from age 3.5 and for adults. The specific test battery used is adapted to age-appropriate measures. For younger children, we use paediatric-specific tools including visual reinforcement audiometry and age-appropriate speech testing.
Assessment and Treatment, Not Just Diagnosis
What makes our approach different: we treat as well as assess
Most APD services stop at diagnosis. We do not. The APD Assessment and Treatment Programme includes a structured treatment pathway following the assessment, targeting the specific deficits identified in your profile.
Auditory processing disorder is not fixed by simply knowing you have it. The diagnosis is the starting point. What changes outcomes is structured, evidence-based auditory training targeted to the specific processing deficits found in the assessment.
Research consistently shows that structured auditory training produces measurable improvements in processing function. The brain's auditory cortex is plastic throughout life. With the right structured stimulation, auditory processing pathways can be strengthened and retrained.
Our treatment programme targets the specific domains identified as impaired in your assessment. Sessions are structured and progressive, each building on gains from the previous one. Progress is tracked throughout the programme using objective measures.
For children, the programme can be delivered in combination with guidance for parents and schools, ensuring the treatment extends into the environments where the difficulties are most pronounced.
Deficit-specific auditory training
Structured exercises targeting the exact processing functions impaired in your profile, phonemic discrimination, speech-in-noise, temporal processing, or auditory memory depending on findings.
Environmental and compensatory strategies
Practical guidance on modifying listening environments, use of assistive technology where appropriate, and strategies that reduce listening effort in the real-world situations that matter most.
Assistive technology guidance
Where indicated, we advise on remote microphone systems, FM systems, and hearing technology options that can support communication in noisy environments alongside the treatment programme.
Progress tracking and review
Measurable progress tracked throughout the programme. For children, written reports suitable for sharing with schools and educational settings are provided to support appropriate adjustments and accommodations.
Who We Assess
APD assessment and treatment for children from age 3.5 and adults
Children from age 3.5
APD significantly affects learning, language development, and classroom performance. We assess children from 3.5 years old using age-appropriate test protocols. Early assessment and targeted treatment can prevent the compounding difficulties that arise when APD is left unaddressed during critical learning years.
Parents often bring children to us after years of being told their child just needs to concentrate or try harder. The assessment frequently provides the explanation that parents had long suspected but were never given.
- Available from age 3.5 years
- Age-appropriate test battery throughout
- Written report for school submission
- Parental guidance included
- Liaison with educational settings where needed
Adults
APD in adults is significantly under-recognised. Many adults with APD spent their entire school years being told they were inattentive or not trying, without ever receiving the correct explanation. Others had no difficulties until a head injury, neurological change, or the combined effect of age-related changes made their processing difficulties more pronounced.
Adults with APD often describe the assessment as the moment that explained their entire life. The relief of finally having an accurate explanation, and a treatment pathway, is often as significant as the clinical outcome itself.
- No age upper limit
- Workplace accommodation documentation available
- Relevant for those with existing ADHD, autism, or dyslexia diagnoses
- Written report for GP or specialist referral
Your APD Specialists
The audiologists who conduct the APD assessment and treatment programme
Awajimijana Otana
Founder and Consultant Audiologist
Known as AJ, our founder holds an MSc in Audiology from the University of Manchester and was nationally recognised by the British Academy of Audiology during his training. He has specialist expertise in APD assessment in both children and adults, with a particular focus on cases involving co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. His ability to explain complex auditory processing findings in accessible language is consistently highlighted by patients and families.
Abby Pillay
Clinical Audiologist
Abby specialises in diagnostic audiology and speech-in-noise testing, both central to APD assessment. She is particularly skilled at conducting assessments with children and patients who have had difficult experiences with previous clinical assessments. Her patient, calm approach enables children to complete the full test battery in a way that produces reliable, accurate results. Patients and parents consistently describe her as the most thorough audiologist they have encountered.
Google Reviews
What patients and families say
"After years of being told my son just needed to focus more, the assessment finally gave us the explanation we had been searching for. The report was thorough, clear, and immediately useful for his school. I cannot thank AJ enough for finally listening to us."
Karen M.
Google Review, Harley Street
"I spent my entire adult life struggling in meetings and social situations, assuming it was anxiety. At 42, I finally have an explanation. The assessment was the most thorough clinical experience I have had in years of trying to understand what was wrong. I finally have answers."
David R.
Google Review, Wigmore Street
"AJ was extremely attentive and interactive, keeping my child engaged throughout the whole process. Extremely knowledgeable for next steps. No pressure and completely professional from the outset. Finally felt heard after years of being dismissed."
Sarah B.
Google Review, Harley Street
Questions
Frequently asked questions about APD assessment and treatment
A standard hearing test measures the quietest sounds you can detect at different frequencies. In auditory processing disorder, peripheral hearing is typically normal. The difficulty is in how the brain processes and interprets what the ears receive. An audiogram does not test central auditory processing. This is why APD is almost always missed by a standard hearing test and requires a dedicated APD assessment using a validated battery of central processing tests.
APD occurs in adults as well as children. Many adults with APD were never diagnosed in childhood because the condition was not properly understood or tested. Others develop auditory processing difficulties following head injury, stroke, or neurological changes. We assess and treat APD in adults of all ages at both our London clinics.
Yes. Structured auditory training consistently produces measurable improvements in processing function. The brain's auditory cortex is neuroplastic throughout life. With the right targeted stimulation, the specific processing functions impaired by APD can be strengthened. Our APD Assessment and Treatment Programme includes a full diagnostic assessment and a structured treatment pathway targeting the specific deficits identified. This is not a condition you simply have to accept.
Yes. Research estimates that approximately 50% of children with ADHD also have auditory processing disorder. APD and ADHD are distinct conditions that frequently coexist. If ADHD medication or other ADHD management strategies have not resolved your listening difficulties, APD may be a separate contributing factor that requires its own assessment and treatment. A diagnosis of ADHD does not rule out APD.
Yes. Research suggests up to 70% of individuals with dyslexia have coexisting APD. APD can also coexist with autism spectrum conditions. These conditions are not mutually exclusive. Whether you have one or more of these diagnoses, if auditory processing difficulties are significantly impacting your daily life, a dedicated APD assessment is appropriate and clinically justified.
Hearing aids alone are not the primary treatment for APD. The core treatment is structured auditory training targeting the specific processing deficits. However, certain assistive technologies, including remote microphone systems, FM systems, and in some cases low-gain hearing aids, can support communication in difficult listening environments alongside the treatment programme. We advise on this as part of the treatment pathway.
Untreated APD can compound over time. When the brain is consistently receiving an inadequate auditory signal or is not being stimulated correctly, auditory processing pathways can weaken further through a similar use-it-or-lose-it mechanism to that seen in other forms of auditory deprivation. Early assessment and structured treatment reduces this risk and supports long-term auditory processing function.
We assess children from age 3.5 years. The test battery used is adapted to age-appropriate measures, using paediatric-specific protocols for younger children and progressively more sophisticated measures as age permits. Early assessment means earlier intervention, which consistently produces better outcomes.
No. You can book directly online or by calling 020 3011 1280. No GP referral is required for the APD assessment and treatment programme.
Book Your APD Assessment
Choose a time at Harley Street or Wigmore Street
Monday to Saturday including evenings until 7pm. No GP referral needed. Both central London clinics available. Children from age 3.5 and adults.
Our Clinics
Two central London clinics for your APD assessment
Harley Street
1 Harley Street, London W1G 9QD
Nearest tube Oxford Circus, 5 min walk. Regent's Park, 7 min walk.
Hours Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm
Phone 020 3011 1280
Wigmore Street
126 Wigmore Street, London W1U 3RY
Location Directly opposite Selfridges
Nearest tube Bond Street, 3 min walk
Hours Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm
You have been searching for an answer long enough
The assessment that finally gives you one
A proper APD assessment, conducted by RHAD registered clinical audiologists at Harley Street and Wigmore Street. For children from age 3.5 and adults. Same-day written report. And a treatment programme that follows the diagnosis.
Monday to Saturday including evenings until 7pm. Harley Street and Wigmore Street, London. No GP referral required.