Auditory Integration Training

Finding it difficult to focus or attend to task is often described as "dreamy," but this may be a symptom of underlying auditory processing delays. My own Kindergarten teacher described me as "marching to the beat of her own drum." If she only knew!

Impulsive, hasty, or too quick off the mark - sometimes to the point of rudeness - commonly results in a diagnosis of ADHD. While this may help with access to classroom accommodations, AIT may address impulsivity without pharmaceuticals. 

 This is the social skills aspect of communication, including turn taking, topic control or keeping to the topic, how to repair a  misunderstanding or miscommunication 

 Hearing too well? Early medical history may have played a role. An informal survey reveals that around 90% of  children with Specific Learning Disability (SLD) have a history of repeated ear infection, upper respiratory infections, and allergies that affected the ears. 

Symptoms in children and adults may include:

• Slow responses to what they hear
• Get instructions wrong
• Forget what they've been told
• Trouble spelling
• Learns best with visual aids. 

In some cases, children and adults my experience suicidal ideation that cannot be readily explained. Case studies suggest that with targeted AIT and informed care, symptoms can be relieved without institutionalization or additional pharmicudicals.  

1. Schedule a meeting or request the assessment forms that you can easily complete at home. Given some history of auditory and behavioral health, your AIT practitioner will determine if you likely qualify for further testing.
2. Schedule an in-person consult and complete a listening test. Some clients may need to visit their ENT or audiologist before completing the listening test to address inner ear health.
3. You will receive a report and recommendation for treatment.
4. After treatment begins, a mid-way and post test will be completed to inform treatment and aftercare. 

In addition to having qualifying behavioral symptoms, the client must demonstrate at least four instances of irregular auditory processing as measured during the listening test. "Instances" includes hyperacusis - over sensitivity to frequencies - or hypoacusis - decreased perception of frequencies or hearing loss. 

• Treatment takes 10 consecutive days.
• The AIT practitioner will provide an mp3 with music that has been equalized to accommodate the client's needs. 
• The music will challenge the ear and brain to better process the frequencies causing delays.
• The client must listen to the assigned tracks for one hour everyday and complete ongoing listening tests to inform best care.