Does Auditory Processing Improve With Age?
We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years. So we cannot tell you whether it gets better, stays the same, or lasts. A British audiology body says some children with auditory processing disorder may still have it as adults (British Society of Audiology, 2018). Ask your child's doctor whether hearing has been checked recently.
TL;DR
- We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years. So we cannot tell you whether it gets better, stays the same, or lasts.
- A British audiology body says some children with auditory processing disorder may still have it as adults (British Society of Audiology, 2018). Adults are assessed for it too. We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years.
- A US audiology body wrote about testing (American Academy of Audiology, 2010). It says many listening tests for auditory processing disorder need a developmental age of seven or eight. That is a stage of development, not a birthday. Ask your child's doctor whether hearing has been checked recently.
The short answer
We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years. So we cannot tell you whether it gets better, stays the same, or lasts. We cannot tell you whether your child has auditory processing disorder.
A British audiology body describes auditory processing disorder as listening trouble with normal hearing (British Society of Audiology, 2018). Auditory processing disorder is sometimes called central auditory processing disorder.
What we hold about age
The British body says some children with auditory processing disorder may still have it as adults. Adults are assessed for it too.
Why age matters for the tests
A US audiology body says audiologists should diagnose auditory processing disorder (American Academy of Audiology, 2010). It says checklists and single tests are not a full assessment.
The same body says many listening tests for auditory processing disorder need a developmental age of seven or eight. That is a stage of development, not a birthday. In younger children, the skills these tests measure are still developing. An audiologist can tell you what can be tested at your child's age.
That age limit is about the tests. In our view, it is not a reason to put off asking. Ask your child's doctor whether hearing has been checked recently.
Nothing we cite here tests Learning Success.
When to ask for help
Some children could do something and now cannot. Our position is that a lost skill goes to a doctor first, not a tutor.
If no skill has gone, start with the teacher. Say what you are seeing at home, and what you have tried.
Any talk of hurting themselves is a same-day call to your doctor or a crisis line.
What to use next
An overview of processing skills. Our work on each runs alongside reading, spelling or math instruction, not in place of it.
Common questions from parents
Does auditory processing disorder get better as children grow?
We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years. So we cannot tell you whether it gets better, stays the same, or lasts. A British audiology body says some children with auditory processing disorder may still have it as adults (British Society of Audiology, 2018). We cannot tell you whether your child has auditory processing disorder. Ask your child's doctor whether hearing has been checked recently.
Can adults have auditory processing disorder?
A British audiology body says some children with auditory processing disorder may still have it as adults (British Society of Audiology, 2018). Adults are assessed for it too. One review found no agreement yet on which tests to use with adults (Redi and colleagues, 2026). We could read only its summary. We hold no study that followed children with auditory processing disorder over the years.
How old does a child need to be to test for auditory processing disorder?
A US audiology body says audiologists should diagnose auditory processing disorder (American Academy of Audiology, 2010). The same body says many listening tests for auditory processing disorder need a developmental age of seven or eight. That is a stage of development, not a birthday. In younger children, the skills these tests measure are still developing. An audiologist can tell you what can be tested at your child's age. Ask your child's doctor whether hearing has been checked recently.