Choosing Between In-Person and Telehealth APD Evaluations

For families and adults across the Southeast trying to access care for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), one of the first questions that comes up is whether the evaluation can be done remotely or requires a visit to the clinic.

The short answer is that the testing itself is done in person, and the appointments on either side of it are handled by telehealth. So the real choice is not between two versions of the same evaluation. It is about how the remote and in-person pieces fit around your schedule, your location, and the type of therapy you may need afterward.

What Happens by Telehealth

We hold audiology licenses in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, so residents throughout those states can access the remote portions of our care.

For children, the process starts with a 30-minute telehealth consultation. We review the case history, determine whether testing is appropriate, and explain what the evaluation involves. About a week after testing, we meet again by telehealth for a one-hour consultation to go through the results and recommendations.

For adults, the results consultation is 30 minutes, also about a week after testing, and the written report is generally available before that appointment.

Buffalo Model auditory training is also offered via telehealth. It is the one auditory training program we deliver remotely, which means many patients complete their therapy from home after a single in-person visit for testing.

What Requires an In-Person Visit

The APD evaluation itself is completed in person at our Columbia clinic. For children it takes about two hours and includes a primary reflex check. For adults it also takes about two hours, and we confirm normal hearing beforehand, which we can do in the clinic if you have not had a recent hearing test.

ARIA therapy is in-person only, delivered over four sessions at our clinic. We are currently the only practice in South Carolina providing ARIA.

Primary Reflex Assessments and Primary Reflex Therapy using the Masgutova Method (MNRI) are also in person, as is Interactive Metronome and standard hearing testing.

If you are traveling from out of state, it is worth telling us in advance if you think you may want ARIA therapy or primary reflex work, so we can look at coordinating more than one service into the same trip.

How APD Evaluations Work

The evaluation looks at four key areas: decoding, tolerance-fading memory, integration, and organization. Together these identify where auditory processing difficulties are occurring and what can be done about them. The specific tests used depend on age, the referring concern, and the individual's auditory profile.

Because the consultations happen by telehealth and only the testing requires a visit, families traveling from out of the area generally make one trip rather than several.

Weighing Your Options

If you are in a rural part of Georgia or North Carolina, or you simply have a packed schedule, the structure works in your favor. One visit to Columbia covers the testing, and everything before and after is handled from home.

If you are already in the Columbia area, or you anticipate needing ARIA therapy or primary reflex work following your evaluation, you may prefer to handle the consultations in person as well. Either works.

Schedule Your APD Evaluation

If you or your child is struggling with listening in noise, following directions, reading, spelling, or staying focused during auditory tasks, an APD evaluation is a good place to start. We work with patients ages 4 and up, and we are happy to talk through what the process would look like for your situation. Contact us at (803) 567-2533 or visit hearsensesc.com to schedule.