Auditory Processing Testing
What an Auditory Processing Evaluation Involves
Some children and adults pass a hearing screening yet still miss what's said in a noisy room. Auditory processing disorder testing in Apple Valley, CA looks at how the brain makes sense of sound. It begins with a complete hearing evaluation, then moves to listening tasks such as repeating words in background noise, telling apart similar sounds, and recalling sound patterns. Depending on age and attention span, testing takes one to three hours.
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Owner & Doctor of Audiology
Clear Answers and a Plan for School and Work
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., wrote a published master's thesis on how the brainstem responds to sound, and auditory processing remains one of her specialties. We evaluate children 7 and older and adults. You'll receive clear recommendations that may include APD school accommodations, remote microphone technology, auditory training exercises, or a referral to a speech-language pathologist. Families from Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Victorville can get this testing close to home.
APD Testing FAQs
Common questions about auditory processing disorder testing in Apple Valley: signs of APD, how it differs from ADHD, testing for children and adults, and next steps.
People with APD usually have normal results on a standard hearing test, yet they struggle to make sense of what they hear. Common signs include trouble understanding speech in noise, asking people to repeat themselves, mixing up similar-sounding words, difficulty following multi-step directions, and getting tired or tuning out in busy, loud settings.
In children, it can show up as trouble with reading, spelling, or phonics, or a teacher's note that your child doesn't seem to listen. Adults often notice it in work meetings, in restaurants, or on the phone. These signs overlap with other conditions, which is why a proper evaluation matters. Call or text (760) 503-1700 to ask whether testing makes sense.
The two can look alike. Both can make a child seem distracted, miss instructions, or struggle in class, and some children have both. The difference is in the cause. APD involves how the brain processes sound specifically, while ADHD affects attention across many situations.
A child with APD may focus well on a book or a puzzle, then lose track when a teacher talks over classroom noise. An auditory processing evaluation can't diagnose ADHD, but it can show whether a listening problem is part of the picture. With your permission, we're glad to share results with your child's pediatrician, psychologist, or school team so everyone works from the same information.
Auditory processing skills keep developing through early childhood, and the tests rely on age-based norms that become reliable around age 7. Before then, it's hard to tell a true processing problem from normal development. The tasks also ask a child to listen closely, follow directions, and stay with it for an hour or more, which is easier for older kids.
If your child is younger and you're concerned, a regular hearing evaluation is still a good idea to rule out hearing loss or fluid in the ears. For older children, we schedule APD evaluations at a time of day when your child is rested, and we build in breaks so they can do their best.
Yes. Adult auditory processing disorder is often overlooked. Many adults have spent years being told their hearing is fine while still struggling to follow conversations at work, in restaurants, or at family gatherings. APD in adults can be lifelong, or it can follow a head injury, an illness, or changes that come with aging.
The evaluation follows the same pattern as it does for children: a full hearing test first, then listening tasks. Recommendations for adults may include remote microphone technology for meetings, communication strategies, auditory training, or hearing aids when hearing loss is also present. Coverage for APD testing varies by plan, so our billing team will check your benefits first. Call or text (760) 503-1700 to schedule.
Hearing Aids Tuned to Your Ears, Not a Factory
Hearing aids only help if they're set for your ears, not generic factory settings. That's why every new fitting at Optimum Audiology includes Real Ear Measurement, a quick test with a tiny microphone that confirms the sound reaching your eardrum matches your hearing loss. We check again at every annual visit, see you for follow-ups in the first month, and most purchases include a trial period so you can hear the difference at home.
Patient Reviews
What patients across the High Desert, Visalia, and La Verne say about their care with Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Expert Hearing Care From the High Desert to Visalia
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has helped patients hear better since 1991, and every plan starts with a thorough hearing evaluation.
Serving Southern & Central California
Four Offices, One Number
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., and her team see patients in Apple Valley, Jess Ranch, La Verne, and Visalia. Choose the office closest to you on the map.
- Call or text: (760) 503-1700
- info@optimumaudiology.com
- Doctor of Audiology since 1991
- Real Ear Measurement on every fitting
- VA Community Care & OWCP provider
Optimum Audiology is a great place to go to for my hearing aids. Friendly staff and very helpful. They take care of everything from insurance, to keeping your hearing aids properly working. Thanks for doing a great job for me Optimum Audiology.— Anthony A.
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