Grand Chapter of Saskatchewan, Royal Arch Masons

Royal Arch Research Assistance, Inc. is a philanthropy of General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, of which Grand Chapter of Saskatchewan is a member and avid supporter.

At the 83rd Annual Grand Chapter Convocations on May 27, 2006 in Saskatoon it was reported that the Chapters of Saskatchewan donated $1,639 - not bad for rather small jurisdiction.

R.E. Comp. Dan Gerle, S.E. of Eagle Lake Chapter No. 20, happily accepted the Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A.) Award on behalf of his Chapter's more than 20 consecutive years of supporting this international philanthropy to learn more about auditory perception difficulties. Making the presentation on behalf of Grand Chapter International was M. Ex. Companion William R. Kauten, Deputy General Grand High Priest, North Central Region, Grand Chapter International , of Waterloo Iowa.

Highlighting one of the examples of RARA sponsorship are:
Central Auditory Research Center and Able Kids Foundation TM

CENTRE
The Central Auditory Research Center concentrates on exploring causes and solutions for individuals with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Thanks to) generous support from the Royal Arch Research Assistance, Inc., a philanthropy of the General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, International, audiologists certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and researchers work with the Director, Dr. Joan Burleigh, to develop the next generation of diagnostic tests and effective treatments and technologies.

ABLE KIDS FOUNDATION
The Able Kids Foundation is a Colorado-based nonprofit that partners with local, national, and international individuals and organizations. It focuses on education, research and outreach to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.

Education — to provide information to individuals, organizations and corporations on alternatives and solutions for people with disabilities that can enhance quality of life;
Research — to conduct and advance basic and applied research that focuses on identification, treatment, technologies and management that will aid individuals with CAPD;
Outreach — to deliver state-of-the-art technologies for persons with disabilities into schools, hospitals, senior centres and public facilities.

CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER
A central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is a condition in which one has difficulty processing or interpreting auditory information when in a less than optimal listening environment. Individuals with a CAPD typically have normal hearing acuity but are unable to efficiently process or interpret speech when in a minimally-noisy environment. The majority of children and adults that we test at the Central Auditory Research Center can hear soft sounds but are unable to understand or process verbal information in an efficient manner in their daily lives. They often report that they are confused or become flustered in busy listening environments. Settings such as a classroom environment, the work place, and social gatherings are often very difficult for them because of confusing verbal stimuli.

BEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS
The following is a list of behaviours observed in persons seen through our centre with suspected central auditory processing difficulties.
• Difficulty following spoken directions
• Auditory distractibility
• Short attention span
• Easily flustered or confused in noisy places
• Sensitivity to loud sounds
• Difficulty completing new tasks
• Difficulty with time concepts
• Often interrupts, does not take turns talking
• Easily upset in new situations
• Frequent misinterpretation of conversational meaning
• Best work performance observed in quiet, structured environments

HOW IS CAPD DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DISORDERS SUCH AT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?
Some of the above mentioned outward behaviours may sound similar to those described in persons with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an attention deficit disorder (ADD). While there are common behavioural manifestations in CAPD and ADD or ADHD, not all persons with CAPD demonstrate behaviours consistent with the diagnostic criteria for attention disorders.

A review of behavioural manifestations in children and adults with CAPD and diagnosed with ADD or ADHD show some differences. Those individuals with ADHD or ADD more
often manifest impulsiveness, hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour. However, both groups demonstrate symptoms of distractibility, short attention span and problems following
verbal directions.
It is important to understand that a CAPD may occur in persons with other disorders such as sensory integration dysfunction, autism, learning disabilities, speech and language deficits, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions. A CAPD may also appear as an isolated
dysfunction.

CENTRAL AUDITORY NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTION
Our research has led us to believe that the knowledge of the workings of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) is critical so that proper diagnosis and management can be initiated. Each of the human senses have special areas of representation in the brainstem and brain. We believe that the auditory system provides perhaps the most important of those sensory systems because it gives us an avenue of verbal communication.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF SOMEONE HAS A CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER
While behavioral patterns can help identify children or adults who may be at high-risk for having central auditory inefficiencies, the determination of the presence of a true central auditory processing disorder in specific individuals relies on the results of a comprehensive battery of standardized audiological tests. These tests must be administered and interpreted by an audiologist and done in an audiological sound suite. Further, because the central auditory nervous system matures slowly, not completing its development until a child is approximately ten to eleven years of age, it is important that central auditory processing assessments also involve age-normed tests so as to consider performance in relation to age expectations.

With maturation, some children will “outgrow” apparent auditory processing difficulties. However, it cannot be determined when or which children will eventually develop a mature central auditory nervous system. The risk of not identifying CAPD in children early is that the child’s early auditory experiences may be hindered, preventing his or her learning during critical readiness periods.

MANAGEMENT
When a central auditory processing disorder is identified, consideration should be given to the likelihood that inefficiencies in the CANS affect the way in which auditory information is being received by the listener, and therefore underlie performance deficits across many areas of learning. In such cases, a management approach that focuses on novel ways of altering acoustic stimuli provides a means for more efficient processing of auditory input, regardless of its content. The use of compensatory strategies should also be considered a useful approach to any management program.

©2003 Dr. Joan Burleigh.
Information provided for the benefit of Royal Arch Masons of Saskatchewan

For more information on the work of the centre contact:
                          Central Auditory Research Center Able Kids FoundationTM
                          2900 S. College Ave., Suite LB
                          Fort Collins, CO 80525
                          Phone: 970.212.4037 Fax: 970.266.1979