Welcome to Listening Ears Audiology, LLC, where we specialize in auditory processing evaluations for children and adults. We are committed to providing personalized care tailored to each patient's unique needs. We recognize that effective communication is vital for personal and academic success, and we are here to identify potential auditory processing issues that may impact speech perception, language development, and overall auditory comprehension. Utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and evidence-based practices, we strive to empower our clients by offering precise assessments and practical solutions to enhance their auditory processing abilities. Whether you are seeking support for yourself or a loved one, you can trust Listening Ears Audiology, LLC  to provide a compassionate and professional environment for your auditory health journey.  

Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD, occurs when individuals have little to no hearing loss but still struggle to understand or process auditory information. People with APD may report " hearing but not understanding." They may have trouble hearing in background noise, difficulty following verbal instructions, reading and writing problems, and frequently ask others to repeat themselves. When this type of disorder affects school-aged children, it can negatively impact their performance and cause them to fall behind their classmates. Individuals with other neurological conditions, such as ADHD and autism, are at an increased risk for auditory processing disorder. APD often mimics attentional issues, making it seem as though the affected person is not listening. Even after successfully managing attention deficits, individuals with APD may still struggle to comprehend auditory information. Things like concussions, exposure to industrial solvents, premature birth or complications during pregnancy/ delivery, multiple ear infections in children, and degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis also increase the risk of APD.

The most common method for diagnosing APD is to administer a specific set of listening tests. Audiologists often look for these main problem areas in individuals with APD: 

Auditory figure-ground: This occurs when a person has trouble understanding speech in the presence of speech babble or ambient noise in the background. Noisy, loosely structured, or open-air classrooms can be very frustrating for a child with APD.

Auditory closure: This occurs when a person is unable to "fill in the gaps" of speech when it becomes more challenging. This can happen in quieter situations, but is more common when the speaker's voice is too fast or muffled, making it difficult for the person to make sense of the sounds and words.

Dichotic listening: This occurs when a person has difficulty understanding competing, meaningful speech that happens simultaneously. For example, if a teacher is talking to one side of the child and another student is talking to the other side, the child with APD may struggle to understand the speech of one or both speakers.

Temporal processing: This refers to the timing of a person's processing system, which enables them to recognize differences in speech sounds, such as "mat" versus "pat." It also helps them understand pitch and intonation (for example, asking a question instead of giving a command), understand riddles and humor, and make inferences.

Binaural interaction: This is the ability to discern which side speech or sounds are coming from and to localize sounds in a room. 

Although there is no known cure for APD, the auditory system isn't fully developed until children are about 14 years of age. Many children diagnosed with APD can develop better listening skills as their auditory system matures. Various strategies may also help with listening and improve the development of the auditory pathway over time, especially when initiated at a younger age. These include: physical accommodations to enhance the listening environment, individual therapies, and help from other professionals to manage non-listening symptoms. For example, a child may benefit from speech-language therapy to address language deficits, counseling to help manage depression or anxiety, art therapy or music therapy to build self-esteem, and/or occupational therapy to address sensory issues or auditory timing concerns.

Listening Ears Audiology is a fee-for-service business. Payment is due at the time of service. Clients are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to determine if their plan allows for non-participating, out-of-network coverage and to get an estimate of their reimbursement. Clients are responsible for full payment and for submitting their insurance claims.  Please ensure that the insurance company remits payment to you, not to Listening Ears Audiology. 

The following information is provided to contact your insurance company:

"How much do you reimburse for the following codes if I see a non-contracted provider? My provider is a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), and the services were provided in the 22306 zip code."

92620-Evaluation of central auditory processing, with report, initial 60 

92557-Comprehensive Audiometry Evaluation

92550 Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflex Testing

92587-Otoacoustic Emission Testing

Each auditory processing evaluation includes the following components :

✔️ A comprehensive audiological assessment (including otoacoustic emissions)

✔️ A comprehensive APD test battery (dichotic listening, temporal processing, binaural integration, etc.)

✔️ Pre-evaluation case history review

✔️ Extended testing time (2–3 hours or more)

✔️ A detailed written report (e.g., 4+ pages)

✔️ Results interpretation and parent/patient counseling

✔️ Recommendations for school accommodations, therapy, referrals, etc.

• Comprehensive Auditory Processing Evaluation: $1300

• Comprehensive Audio Testing: $100  (utilizing boothless audiometry)

• Tympanometry only: $50

• Wideband Tympanometry only: $75

• Tympanometry and Reflex Thresholds: $75

• Wideband Tympanometry and Reflex Thresholds: $100

• Full immittance battery (includes decay): $100

• Full immittance battery (includes wideband tympanometry and decay): $125 

• Distortion product evoked otoacoustic emissions, limited evaluation (to confirm the presence or absence of hearing disorder, 3–6 frequencies): $55

• Distortion product evoked otoacoustic emissions, comprehensive diagnostic evaluation (quantitative analysis of outer hair cell function by cochlear mapping, minimum of 12 frequencies): $100