LITERATURE, SYMPTOMS,
TESTING AND TREATMENT

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Auditory Processing Challenges.

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Children and adults with auditory processing difficulties often find listening to be mentally exhausting, making it hard to sustain attention during conversations or lectures. This can lead to drifting focus, restlessness, or occupying themselves with other activities.

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Because they may miss or mishear important information, individuals with auditory processing challenges sometimes “connect the dots” incorrectly—resulting in responses that seem off-topic or questions about things that were just explained. This impacts comprehension and makes maintaining attention even more difficult.

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Many symptoms of ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) overlap. Since loss of attention is the most noticeable symptom in classrooms, students with APD are often mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD.

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Understanding these differences is key to providing the right support and intervention.

What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?

 

Auditory Processing Disorder is a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to interpret and make sense of sounds, especially speech.

People with APD have difficulty processing auditory information, which can lead to challenges with listening, learning, and communication.

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It’s important to note that APD, also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder, is not hearing loss or a learning disorder. Instead, it means the brain doesn’t “hear” sounds in the typical way—it’s a problem with processing sounds, not with understanding their meaning.

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General Symptoms of APD

APD can affect individuals of all ages but is most commonly diagnosed in children, especially those with learning or language difficulties.

 

Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments

• Trouble following spoken instructions

• Problems with auditory memory and sequencing

Dyslexia and Auditory Processing

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Dyslexia almost always involves an auditory processing component. Many dyslexic students may be very verbal and articulate, yet still struggle to process the sounds within words—making reading and spelling particularly challenging.

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Our program at Encinitas Learning Center (ELC) addresses this by presenting your child with sound-based exercises that gradually increase in speed and complexity, tailored to their pace. This builds auditory processing skills toward proficiency at natural language speeds. Once these foundational skills are strengthened, we introduce reading-specific exercises.

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Our goal is to help your child achieve reading automaticity—where decoding becomes effortless—and improve reading comprehension, setting them on an accelerated and more confident learning path.

When reading relies more on the brain’s language centers, it becomes automatic, freeing up mental resources for understanding and enjoyment. This creates a positive cycle:
less resistance to reading → more practice → greater reading growth.

Understanding and Treating Dyscalculia

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Dyscalculia is treatable in children because their brains are still developing, which allows them to learn and develop the skills they need to adapt to this condition.

Treatment typically involves one-on-one learning programs that are tailored to address the child’s specific challenges. The focus is on the areas where the child struggles most, making the approach highly personalized.

Early intervention is critical. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances that children can adapt and reduce the impact of dyscalculia on their academic and emotional well-being.

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Emotional Symptoms Related to Dyscalculia

 

In addition to difficulties with math skills, children with dyscalculia may experience emotional challenges in math-related situations, such as:

• Anxiety, including test anxiety or even panic attacks

• Agitation, anger, or aggression, such as temper tantrums in younger children

• Fear or phobia related to attending school or facing math tasks

• Physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sweating, or stomachaches

Recognizing and addressing these emotional symptoms is an important part of supporting children with dyscalculia.

Understanding Dysgraphia

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Dysgraphia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to turn their thoughts into written language, despite having the appropriate instruction and education for their age and cognitive abilities.

 

People with dysgraphia may find writing more difficult than speaking, and might experience challenges such as:

• Trouble with letter formation and legibility

• Inconsistent letter size and spacing

• Frequent spelling errors

• Difficulty writing in a straight line

• Trouble holding and controlling a writing tool

• Writing letters in reverse

 

Having one or more of these signs doesn’t necessarily mean a child has dysgraphia. However, if your child struggles with age-appropriate writing skills, it’s important to seek an evaluation to determine if they need specialized support.

 

At Encinitas Learning Center (ELC), we provide targeted help to empower children with dysgraphia to improve their writing skills and confidence.

Building Strong Foundations at ELC

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At Encinitas Learning Center (ELC), we combine personalized tutoring with executive function and cognitive training. This integrated approach means tutoring isn’t just a temporary aid—it builds a lasting foundation for academic success.

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Our one-on-one sessions ensure focused, intensive support tailored to each student’s unique needs. By strengthening cognitive skills and establishing consistent routines, students develop the tools they need to become confident, independent learners.

The results speak for themselves: students who thrive both in school and in life, empowered with self-confidence and resilience.

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We’re proud to have served our wonderful community for 27 years.

What Skills Does a Child with Autism Need?

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Skills training / Life skills / Independent living

 

Training in daily tasks: cooking, self‑care, money management, transportation, cleaning, scheduling, etc. 

 

Getting around / Mobility  

 

Our programs  push for greater gains in cognition, coordination and balance. It is a proven modality used by therapists to get better outcomes.

 

Managing Daily Tasks & Executive Function

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Planning, scheduling, organizing, remembering, task initiation & completion

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​Cognitive strategies learned at ELC should be practiced when doing chores, or managing errands. They are necessary to build one's capacity to live more independently, reducing need for supervision/support over time.

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We don’t just babysit—we actively engage your child’s brain every minute, creating new neural pathways to help them overcome their challenges and thrive.

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Send Results to encinitaslearningcenter@gmail.com and set up and assessment.

PLAY-STORMING

For Children, Teens, Adults, Autism, and Non-Verbal Learners.

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Play-Storming is a facilitated play experience that teaches social skills through hands-on, fun group activities.

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The Five Steps of Play-Storming:

1. Interaction
   Participants engage in a game or group activity designed to encourage social connection.

2. Sharing
   Participants discuss what happened during the activity, sharing their experiences.

3. Processing
   Together, participants analyze and reflect on the experience.

4. Generalizing
   Participants explore how the lessons learned apply to real-life situations — answering the important question, “Why is this important to me?”

5. Applying
   Participants practice using their new social skills in everyday life.

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New Groups Starting Saturdays Afternoon!

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Join us to build social confidence, connection, and communication skills in a supportive, fun environment.

Personalized Homeschooling with a Hybrid Learning Option — Powered by Brain Training

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Our California-based homeschooling program offers a flexible, ELC-led online curriculum tailored to your child’s unique learning needs. Designed for students seeking an alternative school setting, this program allows Encinitas Learning Center to guide your child’s academic journey using a structured, standards-aligned online platform.

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For families wanting additional support and social interaction, we provide a hybrid learning model. Students attend a local school a few days a week and spend the remaining days at ELC, receiving targeted instruction in a nurturing homeschool environment.

 

This approach balances home and classroom learning while bridging academic gaps.

What truly sets us apart is our innovative brain training program, which strengthens core cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and processing speed. By combining academic instruction with cognitive development, we help students build a strong foundation for long-term success in school and beyond.

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Whether you choose the fully online or hybrid option, our program is ideal for families who want to personalize education and accelerate learning progress.