If you have auditory processing disorder (APD), you may be struggling with a lot of challenges. You might have trouble with your memory and concentration, or you may have trouble in school and finding work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a career that fits your unique needs.
There are plenty of careers for adults with APD, and many of them will allow you to succeed even if you struggle with understanding spoken language. Here are just a few options:
-A job as a cashier at the local grocery store or one of the big chains like Walmart or Kroger’s. These jobs don’t require much talking, so they’re perfect if you need quiet environments where it’s okay to listen and not speak much.
-You can also work as an office assistant in any number of settings: hospitals, medical offices, law firms, government offices, etc. These positions usually aren’t very demanding on their employees’ time management skills because they typically only require basic clerical work (typing documents into computers). This makes them ideal for people who need quiet environments so they can concentrate on important tasks without being distracted by background noise (like phones ringing).
Careers for adults with auditory processing disorder
Auditory processing disorder can make it difficult to interpret information and respond appropriately to auditory stimuli. This can make it difficult for adults with APD to find or maintain employment. Luckily, there are several career options that can be well-suited for adults with auditory processing disorder.
Here are some careers that may be suitable for adults with APD:
• Artistic professions: Artist, musician, actor/actress, writer
• Teacher: Teacher in elementary school or other educational setting
• Social service professionals: Social worker, case manager, counselor
• Administrative support professionals: Administrative assistant
There are many jobs that adults with auditory processing disorder can do. Here are some of the top jobs:
- Accountant: This job requires you to use numbers and math, which can be difficult for people with APD.
- Teacher: This job requires you to speak clearly and often, which can be difficult for people with APD.
- Social worker: This job involves listening to other people’s stories and giving advice, which can be difficult for people with APD.
- Cook: This job involves speaking clearly and loudly so that others can hear you, which can be difficult for people with APD.
As an adult, you may find that your auditory processing disorder has impacted your career in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for careers that could be perfect for those with auditory processing disorder:
- Education: Teachers, professors, and other educators all need to be able to understand what their students are saying in order to teach them effectively. This is especially true if you’re teaching children who don’t yet have the language skills to explain their thoughts properly. You’ll also want to make sure that you can distinguish between different voices when communicating with students so that they don’t feel like they’re being singled out by you.
- Customer service: Customer service jobs can be challenging if you have trouble hearing words or understanding tone of voice. In these situations, it’s important for customers to feel heard and understood—and for businesses to provide excellent service so that people return again and again!
- Marketing/PR: If you’re interested in marketing or PR as a career path, it will help if you have an auditory processing disorder because this type of work requires strong verbal communication skills and an ability to connect with others on an emotional level (even if it’s just over the phone).
-receptionist
-data entry
-clerical work
If you’re unsure where to start, you may want to consider an expressive career that values your strengths. Since working with other people is often easier for someone with APD, a career in sales or marketing may be a good choice. In the beginning of this article, we stated that one of the difficulties adults with APD face is speaking when they have negative feelings about their topics. This can be partially solved by a shift in communication skills and the use of both verbal and non-verbal cues. Sales positions in particular involve regularly interacting with people and would be an ideal position for someone with APD to enter if their auditory processing is not too severe.
However, despite the challenges that A.P.D. can present, there are some jobs which may be just right for adults with A.P.D. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of occupations available to adults with A.P.D., but it should give you some ideas as to what your future career options might be if you have A.P.D..
This article is for all of you who have auditory processing disorder and want to pursue a career in the creative industries like music, film, or design.
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