The ability to process auditory information can have profound implications for the developing child. Deficits in auditory processing ranging from deafness to more subtle disruptions of information processing have been linked to secondary sequelae such as speech impairments, reading disorders, and writing disorders. In this chapter, the nature of auditory processing disorders (APDs) in children will be discussed in light of the current state of the literature in the field. Contextualized within a brief historical overview, a working definition will be introduced as a foundation for further discussion of , and clinical presentation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)