Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is the term used to describe audiological difficulties that are characterized by reduced abilities to process auditory information in individuals with normal peripheral hearing. CAPD includes difficulties in locating the source and direction of sounds, discriminating between sounds, recognizing patterns of sounds, ordering sounds that are presented in close temporal proximity, and discerning sounds in background noise (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 1996).
A condition, sometimes confused with attention deficit disorder or hearing disorders, in which a child has normal hearing and intelligence, but cannot interpret sounds and their correct contexts or meanings.