Caught up in a world of confusion over rare disorder

Simon Briggs became concerned that his wife, Chelsea, 20, had hearing problems after she kept turning up the volume on the television at the home they share in Chesterfield.

But tests showed she had no problems with her hearing – and she was eventually diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD). The condition means sufferers have difficulties understanding speech because their brains cannot process sounds.

Little is known about the disorder, which is believed to affect as many as one in 10 children, but it is believed to be passed on genetically.

Now the couple are facing a wait until further tests can be carried out on their 10-month-old baby son, Corylee, to find out if he has the condition.

Mr Briggs, 30, said they had been left with little information following the diagnosis.

"After a hearing test and referral to the hospital, Chelsea was given hearing aids and we thought these would help," he said.

"But after further tests we were told she had APD, something we'd never heard of and we were sent away with confusing leaflets and left to cope with it on our own.

"Every aspect of Chelsea's life is affected. Noisy places are terrible for her and she says that everything feels jumbled up in her head.

"She struggles to understand instructions and, as she has a physical disability, too, I have had to become her full-time carer and point of contact for all communication.

"The most frustrating thing for me has been the lack of support and knowledge, even when I try to talk to the consultants at the hospital they don't seem to know how to help."

He said he had tried to research as much as he could on the internet and had been given some useful help from the charity Deafness Research UK.

Its chief executive, Vivienne Michael, said it was funding research into APD to develop more accurate diagnostic tests.

"While the charity is passionate about research and finding new cures and treatments, we are also here to offer help, support, information and practical guidance for people faced with the challenges of hearing disorders," she added.

Anyone with questions about APD can call the charity's free helpline on 0808 808 2222.