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Auditory Processing Disorder in sport
4 min read
Hi, I wanted to talk to you about Learning Difficulties, Processing Disorders and playing sports, in particular Roller Derby and Auditory Processing Disorder.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is like this sister to Dyslexia in that APD is a difficulty with processing sound, Dyslexia is a difficulty with processing language. APD is where your hearing is perfect, you dont need a hearing aid, but you cant hear clearly because your brain does not process the information correctly. Sounds and speech get a bit jumbled up on the way in and out. It can also mean you find things like following instructions, talking in sequence and finding the words to fit what you are saying difficult to do.
The reason I wanted to talk to you about this is, from my experience playing Roller Derby, there are a LOT of different people involved in the sport and we all have our stories of what we find difficult. This is partly my story, but most likely the story of many others out there too.
First I want to talk to you about what APD feels like in a normal setting. I want you to imagine you sat in a completely silent street and your friend is there with you talking to you. Start adding these sounds into the mix
A car beeping its horn
leaves rustling
peoples footsteps
a baby crying
other people talking
car doors slamming
a flower seller exclaiming his prices
a bus hissing
a dog barking
the wind whistling past your ears
a skateboard wheels going by
cars rolling past
So these are every day noises in a street. You are talking to your friend, listening to their conversation only you have APD. All of these sounds are now at the same volume. You find it hard to pin point sound direction so its like a all direction bombardment on your ears. You are desperately trying to concentrate on the conversation only now when your friend says: “Hey, so were going to this bar tonight. Theres going to be a few coming down from London. It should be heaps fun!”
You hear: “Hey, cats psst are cable-ties frahh your grandma is a tree. Shhh going to be digital carpets wearing London. Chai hurrr red fun!”
Confusing right?! Ive found no audio parallels on YouTube apart from one to do with Autism that will give you an idea. youtu.be/IcS2VUoe12M?t=54 just close your eyes (because I want you to focus on what you are listening to rather than the visuals) and imagine trying to have a conversation over this noise.
The reason I want to discuss this in relation to Roller Derby is that it is a very noisy sport. Whistles, wheels, shouting, fans chanting, announcers.. For everyone it is hard to hear what is going on even if they dont have APD. Your team mate has told you she wants you to use a certain play, lets say 4D. But you hear “40” and youre like “40 what? The player 40? we have a 40 point differential? 40 minutes left of the game?” Its a simple command, but it can go awfully wrong. Youre left confused.
Half way through a jam you need to shout to your team mate an instruction, but your mind goes blank. You cannot bring that word out of your brain, its just not there anymore. And the moment has passed, they instruction you needed to shout is already invalid because the skater you were needing to have offensed has taken that gap and theyre gone.
Having APD whilst playing sports is tough, we kick ourselves for not being able to communicate properly and feel isolated from conversations or instructions.
Its invisible and a hearing aid wont help. I cant imagine how hard it is for deaf skaters to circumnavigate the sport, its at the other end of the spectrum. Not hearing enough – Hearing way too much. But the difficulty in communication is somewhat similar. I wanted to talk about this to raise awareness of APD in sport. People with APD arent incompetent at the sport, we just need a bit of foreward planning and understanding such as signals and patience. This isnt a dig at anyone in the sport, far from it. This sport saved me in so many ways and Im so proud that Roller Derby is so inclusive. If you have APD or any other type of Learning Difficulty, or processing disorder, or hearing problem please tell your team mates, if youre a team mate, try not to get frustrated when we sometimes dont succeed in our objectives.
Thank you for listening!
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is like this sister to Dyslexia in that APD is a difficulty with processing sound, Dyslexia is a difficulty with processing language. APD is where your hearing is perfect, you dont need a hearing aid, but you cant hear clearly because your brain does not process the information correctly. Sounds and speech get a bit jumbled up on the way in and out. It can also mean you find things like following instructions, talking in sequence and finding the words to fit what you are saying difficult to do.
The reason I wanted to talk to you about this is, from my experience playing Roller Derby, there are a LOT of different people involved in the sport and we all have our stories of what we find difficult. This is partly my story, but most likely the story of many others out there too.
First I want to talk to you about what APD feels like in a normal setting. I want you to imagine you sat in a completely silent street and your friend is there with you talking to you. Start adding these sounds into the mix
A car beeping its horn
leaves rustling
peoples footsteps
a baby crying
other people talking
car doors slamming
a flower seller exclaiming his prices
a bus hissing
a dog barking
the wind whistling past your ears
a skateboard wheels going by
cars rolling past
So these are every day noises in a street. You are talking to your friend, listening to their conversation only you have APD. All of these sounds are now at the same volume. You find it hard to pin point sound direction so its like a all direction bombardment on your ears. You are desperately trying to concentrate on the conversation only now when your friend says: “Hey, so were going to this bar tonight. Theres going to be a few coming down from London. It should be heaps fun!”
You hear: “Hey, cats psst are cable-ties frahh your grandma is a tree. Shhh going to be digital carpets wearing London. Chai hurrr red fun!”
Confusing right?! Ive found no audio parallels on YouTube apart from one to do with Autism that will give you an idea. youtu.be/IcS2VUoe12M?t=54 just close your eyes (because I want you to focus on what you are listening to rather than the visuals) and imagine trying to have a conversation over this noise.
The reason I want to discuss this in relation to Roller Derby is that it is a very noisy sport. Whistles, wheels, shouting, fans chanting, announcers.. For everyone it is hard to hear what is going on even if they dont have APD. Your team mate has told you she wants you to use a certain play, lets say 4D. But you hear “40” and youre like “40 what? The player 40? we have a 40 point differential? 40 minutes left of the game?” Its a simple command, but it can go awfully wrong. Youre left confused.
Half way through a jam you need to shout to your team mate an instruction, but your mind goes blank. You cannot bring that word out of your brain, its just not there anymore. And the moment has passed, they instruction you needed to shout is already invalid because the skater you were needing to have offensed has taken that gap and theyre gone.
Having APD whilst playing sports is tough, we kick ourselves for not being able to communicate properly and feel isolated from conversations or instructions.
Its invisible and a hearing aid wont help. I cant imagine how hard it is for deaf skaters to circumnavigate the sport, its at the other end of the spectrum. Not hearing enough – Hearing way too much. But the difficulty in communication is somewhat similar. I wanted to talk about this to raise awareness of APD in sport. People with APD arent incompetent at the sport, we just need a bit of foreward planning and understanding such as signals and patience. This isnt a dig at anyone in the sport, far from it. This sport saved me in so many ways and Im so proud that Roller Derby is so inclusive. If you have APD or any other type of Learning Difficulty, or processing disorder, or hearing problem please tell your team mates, if youre a team mate, try not to get frustrated when we sometimes dont succeed in our objectives.
Thank you for listening!
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Bizarre Magazine Art Competition
1 min read
I am a finalist in the Bizarre Magazines recent art competition. This means my piece 'Auroch Glow'
will be exhibited in London and featured in their next issue!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, I really appreciate it.
RJ
freakstaticillustration.co.uk/
www.wix.com/freakstatic/freaks…
will be exhibited in London and featured in their next issue!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, I really appreciate it.
RJ
freakstaticillustration.co.uk/
www.wix.com/freakstatic/freaks…
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Ladies and Gentlemen
1 min read
I have the oppertunity to have my work put in the Saatchi with a competition I have entered, if you could take 10 seconds to click the link and vote for me Id really appreciate it! Thank you!! RJ xx
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/show…
side note: to all those who already have, thank you so much for the support!
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/show…
side note: to all those who already have, thank you so much for the support!
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