Therapeutic Listening Written by Jeanette Bond OTR/L
What is sensory integration therapy?
Sensory integration therapy aims to help kids with sensory processing issues by exposing them to sensory stimulation in a structured way. The aim is to encourage participation, engagement, and elicit an appropriate adaptive response. The sensory systems involved include tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, vestibular or movement, proprioception, and interoception.
Therapeutic listening is one type of sensory integration therapy we use. Each child is different and therefore every sensory system is different. We conduct thorough sensory integration evaluations to determine what each child needs and what type of sensory processing disorder exists. Therapeutic listening is one type of sensory integration therapy we use. Sensory Integration therapy is a valuable tool often used in therapy services at Dynamic Solutions.
Therapeutic Listening
Therapeutic Listening is an evidenced based intervention based on Jean Ayres’ research in sensory integration. One of the main goals of sensory integration treatments is to optimize sensory processing through vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile senses in order to generate goal-directed activity. Based on recent evidence, the auditory system is an essential component for sensory integration. The Therapeutic Listening program is specifically designed to provide high quality auditory input within sensory integration treatment.
We use listening every day to locate sounds, organize it, and use the information with our other senses. Listening happens both consciously and unconsciously. We are constantly monitoring different sounds in our environment. This monitoring process is an essential step in a variety of integrated sensory processing skills including attention. Children who have sensory integration difficulties or sensory processing concerns may also have problems with listening. Kids with listening difficulties may be considered auditory defensive or auditory over-responsive. This causes children to cover their ears or to over-respond to everyday sounds including vacuum cleaners, blenders, hair dryers or noisy environments.
Therapeutic Listening is an auditory intervention which incorporates organized sound patterns in music to impact the nervous system. A main goal of Therapeutic Listening is to provide grounding and centering of the body and mind in space and time. Therapeutic Listening uses a variety of music chips which are specifically altered to elicit an orienting response, which in turn allows for active listening and increased sustained attention. Therapeutic Listening is specifically designed to help with attention, organized behavior, self regulation, postural control, visual motor integration, social skills, bilateral coordination, fine motor control, oral motor skills, and communication.
Contact us for a Therapeutic Listening consult if you think your child may benefit from this therapy. www.dynamicsolutionstherapy.com
We will discuss sensory processing disorder more thoroughly in our next blog.