How to use Therapeutic Listening

Therapeutic Listening uses modulated music played on a personal cd player through high quality headphones to provide a unique modality to help integrate the sensory system. Therapeutic listening is based on theories of sensory integration by Jean Ayres whom believes sensory processing can be enhanced through the vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile senses. Therapeutic listening provides direct input to the auditory and vestibular systems. It is recommended for individuals with deficits in communication/language, attention/focus, self-regulation, motor coordination, social skills, and sensory integration.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• CD player
• High quality headphones (Sennheiser HD500A OR Pro-50)
• Tune Belt (which holds the CD player in a belt around the child's waist to allow greater mobility while listening)
• Modulated CDs from Vital Sounds
• Therapist trained in Therapeutic Listening to help select and monitor choice of CDs.

1. Do your own research on Therapeutic Listening. Go to Vital Link's website at http://www.vitallinks.net.

2. Schedule an evaluation for your child with a trained Therapeutic Listening Therapist. Go to the website above to locate one.

3. Fill out the Listening Skills Inventory and Sensory Profile to help the therapist determine the appropriate intervention plan for your child.

4. Order the necessary supplies to begin the program or borrow/rent supplies from a lending library (if the clinic offers one). The cost of the program is about $200. This includes high quality headphones, personal cd player, cd tune belt, and the purchase of one modulated cd.

5. Listening therapy is done 30 minutes, two times per day, 7 days per week with a minimum separation of 3 hours between listening sessions.

6. Often times clinics will have participants purchase one cd for the clinic's lending library and will allow participants to borrow cds from the library until the program is complete. Many programs take between 2-6 months to complete for initial gains and may have the participants stay on a cd as part of a sensory diet.

7. After therapeutic listening you may see improvements in:
   
   * Modulation/Self-Regulation
   * Attention and focus
   * Sensory processing
   * Language and communication skills
   * Auditory defensiveness
   * Social skills
   * Postural control
   * Bilateral coordination
   * Motor planning
   * Visual motor integration

8. Some diagnoses that benefit from this intervention include:
   
   * Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD, PDD-NOS
   * ADHD, ADD
   * Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
   * Sensory Integration Disorder
   * Developmental Delay
   * Motor Incoordination
   * Learning Disability

Tips & Warnings

• Therapeutic listening may not work for everyone and results may vary
• It is recommended that individuals do not watch TV or use the computer at the same time they are listening.
• Therapeutic listening is often a program done in the home and is less costly than other listening programs.
• Therapeutic listening is less intensive than Berard Auditory Integration Training (see article in my profile) and desired results may take more time to obtain
• Discuss specific warnings with a Therapeutic Listening Specialist

Resources

• Vital Links