This book is written for parents and adults with APD, plus educational and medical professionals. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) affects many people with aniridia. This book provides a lot of insight into the condition.
It was published in March 2021 by Alyson Mountjoy. The full title is “Auditory Processing Disorder: Identification, Diagnosis and Strategies for Parents and Professionals“. The condition is sometimes prefixed with ‘central’ making the acronym CAPD.
Although it does not mention visual impairment directly, chapter 4 does talk about scotopic
sensitivity syndrome (SSS) or visual stress. Its symptoms similar to aniridia can include light sensitivity, poor depth perception and difficulty reading black text on white paper due to glare.
The book is divided into eleven chapters based on a list of stages called the A Plan
- Awareness: Identification
- Answers: Seeking Diagnosis
- Acceptance: The Process
- Additions: Coexisting conditions
- Action: Coping Strategies and support at home
- Advocacy: Finding a voice
- Adjustments: Education support
- Alternatives: Flexible education
- Adolescence: Teenage years and life skills
- Adulthood: Problems and possibilities
- Anxiety: Stress and mental health.
Aniridia Network recommends this book as it gives clear insights into APD and suggests ways to support those who have the condition. It is very easy to read with clearly defined chapters and so is good to dip into. Alyson writes in a clear, knowledgeable style with little jargon, she explains terms when necessary and includes useful case studies.
The author is a parent of a child with APD, visual processing disorder, hyperacusis (noise sensitivity) and other sensory sensitivities. He is now an adult.
As a special needs learning support assistant Alyson also supported children with severe dyslexia as well as a range of other conditions.
Alyson is the founder and chair of APD Support UK, manages five APD related support groups and is an invited parent/patient member of both UK and international research projects on APD.
For more about APD and the typical aniridia gene, watch this video from our 2011 conference