I grew up with a disability and I thought writing about my experience may help others in need. So, I’ve linked a few websites to this page to point other families towards help. Auditory Processing Disorder –APD is what I was diagnosed as having when I was 11 years old. Basically, I had problems understanding what people were saying to me at times. Although I can hear sound and am not deaf, incoming words could be incomplete or garbled at times, especially if there were background noises with conversation from a distance. For years kids at my school, even some teachers and coaches, thought I was ignoring them, being inattentive or lazy as well as intellectually challenged. Sadly, there was a bit of bullying.

My mom tutored me relentlessly in reading, writing and mathematics subjects as a child. Because of her efforts, things became easier for me, but the underlying problem, scrambled verbal instructions, remained. I had serious issues translating conversation which made my everyday life very difficult and frustrating year after year.

My 5th grade teacher spoke with my mom after she noticed I was severely lagging behind my classmates answering verbal questions, and the decision was made to seek medical help. After being diagnosed by a hearing specialist, the school district initiated a Section 504 Plan and assigned a Speech and Language Pathologist to work with me. I have made significant progress the past five years and now I have improved to be on par with my peers and I am essentially healed. I remember my dad had texted my soccer coaches my freshman year about my condition, and he had stipulated that they not give me any charity, I had to earn promotions…and I have. Every day I thank God for all who have helped me cope with and overcome APD.