Read the full transcript here
In this All About You episode, Dr. Lilach Saperstein speaks with podcaster and podcast manager, Juliana Pedri. Juliana lives in Las Vegas, loves art and spending time with family, and shares her story living with APD. Juliana had no clue she had a learning disability until the age of 18. Throughout her life has learned to stand up for herself and still be successful editing podcasts, which focus on audio production. Listen or read the full transcript below to hear about her experience finding out about her APD later in life and her advice for parents who are uncertain about sharing such a diagnosis (or similar ones) with their child/ren.
4:45: Auditory Processing playing out in Juliana’s childhood: Although Juliana’s parents knew about her APD by the time she was aged 2, Juliana’s parents didn’t tell her about her APD until age 18. School was difficult and studying took her extra time to process information.
8:00: Diagnosis clicking for Juliana: Juliana would hear things one way and then figure out that someone was actually saying something else. The background noises in school made it harder for her to hear things and remember things. Eventually her college professor, who was also an audiologist, gave her more information about her APD condition.
9:30: Learning about her APD: Initially when her parents told her about her APD diagnosis, she was upset that they waited so long to tell her. Looking back, she wishes she could take proper steps to help her get services and make classes easier for her. As a parents there is a not right decision about discussing such an issue with your child; you got it take it case by case on an individual’s basis.
12:00: Juliana’s unique identity: Just as every child has their own identity, so too did Juliana’s APD, make her childhood and coming of age unique since it defined her life while growing up. With this identity, getting a degree and pursuing audio work, despite her APD, makes her feel very proud of herself and this aspect of her identity.
16:00: Disability support and accommodations: At The University of Nevada, Reno, Juliana received every type of support that a student can get to support. She got a radio and a recording pen (16:00). She also had note takers. Lastly, she got an empty classroom, with no distractions, for exams. These supports helped Juliana redo her notes, after class, since she got all of the information in order to fill in the gaps that she missed in class due to the APD.
20:00: Sound Sensitivity: Loud noises will distract her. Even the air ducts of her air conditioner, TV, and noises in public places can distract her. Sound sensitivity gives one a lot of meaning and allows someone like Juliana to pick up on things that others with regular hearing may miss!
23:00: Juliana’s advice for parents with children who have an APD: Juliana thinks it’s good to communicate such information with one’s child/ren when they reach an age and stage where they will understand their life condition. One can encourage their child as they can be successful despite having an APD.
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https://www.instagram.com/whatsthatpod/
https://www.facebook.com/julianapedri.pp/
https://www.julianapedripodcasts.com/
