Why can't I process spoken speech and how can I find academic support?

Dear Reader, 

First off, you definitely deserve kudos for your academic success. Excelling in high school and getting into college despite struggling to understand daily speech shows real determination. Advocating for yourself, through communicating your needs with instructors or contacting your school’s disability services office may help you get academic and personal support to graduate. You may also consider meeting with a health care provider to get a medical opinion of what you’re going through and develop a personalized treatment and coping plan, if necessary. Read on for more information about what you might be experiencing and tips for continuing your college journey! 

What might cause difficulty with following spoken speech? 

There are some language-related conditions that you may consider researching to better understand what you might be experiencing. One potential condition is auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central processing disorder. It involves trouble with processing heard sounds and language. Common symptoms include having difficulty in the following areas: 

• Engaging in long conversations, especially in loud environments 
• Responding quickly when talking with others 
• Completing reading, spelling, and writing tasks 
• Telling different words apart 
• Understanding people when they speak rapidly 
• Following verbal directions  

List adapted from Cleveland Clinic 

Spoken language disorder (SLD), which mainly involves difficulty with learning, listening, and speaking skills and using these skills, could also describe what you’re experiencing. SLD can lead to difficulty with expressing ideas and thoughts and engaging in conversations, making participating in classroom interactions and discussions challenging. 

There's also the possibility of other neurodivergent conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which usually entails challenges with social communication and interaction. ASD may lead to APD and SLD symptoms or occur together with these conditions. However, without some time monitoring your symptoms, it’s difficult to know exactly what you may be experiencing.  

How can you find learning support in college? 

You’ve already taken important steps in reaching out for support, and you’re definitely not alone in this. One study found that about six percent of college students reported having learning disabilities. Among those who received accommodation, they found it easier to complete class assignments and reach out to instructors after class. Perhaps seeking out some accommodations could help you with your studying and schoolwork.  

Here are some additional options that you may consider to help you advocate for yourself and support your learning in college:  

• Communicate your needs with instructors: Consider meeting with your instructor to speak with them about what they can do to help you learn better. For example, would it help you hear more clearly if they use a microphone or speak more slowly? Would including more visuals on the slides or turning on closed captions for videos help you get a better grasp of the course content?  
• Meet with your school’s disability services office: Many schools have an office to help students arrange for accommodations in classes and campus life in general.  
• Try out different seating in the classrooms: You may experiment with sitting closer to the front of the classroom and sitting away from sources of noise, such as a fan or a projector.  
• Explore technological tools and learning strategies: There are a number of applications that can record lectures and generate notes and summaries. You may consider asking the instructor if they would feel comfortable being recorded and then exploring what is available to figure out which one to test out.   

What treatment options are available? 

Depending on if you’re diagnosed with a specific condition, some possible treatments include auditory training to help you recognize and understand different types of sounds, language and social communication skills intervention to help you feel more at ease in conversations, and so on.  

People with conditions like APD and SLD have different coping strategies and may experience different needs when it comes to treatment. Meeting with a health care provider can help you better understand what you’re experiencing and get you directed to the appropriate care. You might be referred to a hearing, speech, and language specialist or an ASD specialist for evaluation if needed. These more niche health care professionals might be more suited to provide you with a diagnosis and treatment options that fit your needs. If you decide to pursue your school’s disability services office for support, they may also require a diagnosis or formal documentation of your condition. After documentation, you’ll have access to accommodation services. 

This might feel overwhelming, but you've already taken some big steps to stay on top of your education. Wishing you strength and luck in your college career!