Ava Martinez is a high school-age young lady who enjoys sports, church, family and friends. She does very well in school and sports and has a very normal social life. However, she is well above average. Ava was diagnosed with a condition called Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) when she was very young and while she is not deaf, has a difficult time understanding aural communication. With the help of specialized equipment, software, and listening techniques, she has found ways in which to equip herself within the classroom, all but overcome APD and is determined to help other young people achieve the same quality of life as those not affected by the disorder. Ava's story is that of compassion and empathy.
AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER
Imagine sitting in a classroom while the teacher is giving a lesson and SE3NTANC4EEVERY L*IKE TH9ISSOUNDS
Jumbled, hard to figure out, nonsensical. By the time you figured out what the teacher said, they're four sentences into the next concept. This is a crude way of understanding what someone with Auditory Processing Disorder has to endure daily. APD affects approximately 5% of all school age children and appears to be more common in children who also suffer from dyslexia, making it extremely difficult for these children to keep up with school. It is commonly misdiagnosed as deafness or an attention deficit disorder because the symptoms are similar at younger ages which is why it is recommended to wait until between 7-8 years old for APD testing.
THE SOLUTION
Ava has discovered something in her early teens that most people spend their whole life looking for...Purpose.
Ava is on track and doing very well in school. She would like to continue her education in a field related to APD research or therapy.
There are two practical ways that Ava has found useful in dealing with APD: listening and learning techniques that she has been taught by professionals and special electronic devices that assist her with both making sense of what she is hearing and also staying organized with her schoolwork. This equipment consists of an iPad® with specially developed apps and a hearing device, called a Phonak iSense Micro that wirelessly connects a microphone which her teachers wear, directly to a small listening device that she wears on her ear.
Both therapy and these electronic devices have a lofty price tag which is why Ava is concentrating her efforts on raising funds to help other children and teens who cannot afford these necessary aids. This is why she founded How We Hear.