Have children that stare at you with the, deer-in-the-headlights look?  Renie explains how children with auditory processing are often seen as having attitude problems or as discipline issues – and what to do about it.

If your children seem to stare at you with a blank look when you are giving instructions – it can look like an attitude problem, but it is most likely an auditory processing issue. So what can you as parents, do about that “blank stare” that deer-in-the-headlights look?

What we normally do when we see “the stare”

  1. repeat ourselves (before our children are finished understanding)
  2. causing more blank stare (children now have part of one instruction and another entire instruction to understand)
  3. raising our frustration – and their potential outburts
  4. we decide they are being disrespectful

What to do instead

  1. you see the stare, pause for 5 seconds
  2. relax yourself (because your old reaction of impatience will start up and your children need time to relax as well)
  3. ask your children to take a deep breath with you (include rolling your shoulders to make it physically relaxing)
  4. simplify the instruction before repeating it
    1. use less words
    2. use simpler words

When you follow the steps above you will find your children start understanding you faster and better. You have removed the anxiety from the situation.

What to do if you suspect an  auditory processing issue

  1. see an audiologist for a hearing test
  2. if your child passes the hearing test, call us and book and appointment for TAVS testing (Test of Auditory and Visual Skills) & a sound therapy program recommendation.
  3. for yourself? click the link below for an online sound therapy.