Classroom and Home Suggestions for Children with Auditory Processing Disorder: By Debbie Milam
• To decrease impulsive answering cue the child to slow down and think about the response before answering questions. If an incorrect response is given, cue the child to think and try again. Provide extra time for processing and self-correcting.
• Give the child enough time to think and respond to auditory instructions or questions.
• Before providing instructions make sure you have the child's attention.
• Provide nonverbal cues to gain the child's attention. Devise a cue with the child so they know it is time to focus and listen.
• Teach the student to use visual information: look and listen.
• Key words should be listed on the blackboard prior to starting a new lesson.
• When possible provided written instructions in addition to oral ones.
• Teach listening skills. For instance, the child should wait until instructions are completed before beginning a task.
• Check the child's comprehension of auditory information before moving on to another topic.
• Restate important information by rephrasing it several times using different words. Give the child information in small packets. Provide instructions in sound bites.
• Help the child be responsible. This means encouraging the child to check that he/she heard all of the instructions.
• Slow down. Modify your speech patterns, use simpler constructions, and slow down the rate of presentation.
• Provide cueing when necessary for completing thoughts in written and verbal formats. Cue the student to use full sentences.
• When checking work if incomplete thoughts or wrong answers are apparent ask for clarification from the student as to their line of thinking. Many times children with processing difficulties know what they want to say but may have difficulty expressing it.
• Sit the student in front of teacher's instructional area facing the teacher.
• Avoid sitting the child next to distractible children.
• Reduce the noise level in the classroom. This can be accomplished by carpeting the classroom or using tennis balls on the bottom of chairs. In addition, if music is played it should be without any words and should be a CD or tape format rather than the radio.
• Following a routine can greatly improve the student's ability to process and focus. This can be accomplished by maintaining a structured, orderly classroom where each student knows what to expect and rules are consistently followed.
• Devise a routine card for the student's desk: Morning routine and last 5 minutes of class: Things to be included in the routine: organize daily work, organize desk, organize supplies, check homework to see what books need to brought home, pack lunchbox in backpack.
• To assist in short term memory retrieval allow the student to keep a small pad at their desk so they can write down key words.
• When work or listening skills begin to digress allow the student to do some other tasks for 5 minutes to regroup: running an errand to the office, doing some repetitive non-challenging tasks (i.e. Washing the blackboard, sorting papers, or performing heavy work tasks (i.e. carrying books or doing wall push-ups)
• Cue the child to take deep breaths to help refocus and improve listening skills
• Experiment -keep a log of what works and what doesn't
• Be supportive and understanding during challenging tasks and positively reinforce effort, focus and good listening skills.
For more ways to improve processing click here
For ways to comfort and soothe the child with processing problems click here
For more ways to lay the foundation for success click here
For more ways to enhance learning potential click here
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Debbie Milam is the author of Stop Fighting and Start Connecting. An occupational therapist and life coach whose work has been featured in over 300 media outlets including The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, PBS and The Hallmark Channel. Visit her website for more books and resources to help you be a create a life of peace, joy, and success for you and your children. Sign-up for her newsletter at BestYouCanBe.org and receive your special report Creating Peace Within Yourself and Your Family. © copyright 2006 Debbie Milam
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