Therapeutic Listening

At the Child Integration Centre we offer Therapeutic Listening which we use in conjunction with regular therapy. Therapeutic Listening is a program which involves sound training in combination with sensory integrative techniques. Sound training uses electronically altered music that has been designed to produce specific effects on listening skills when the child follows a prescribed individualized program. The program has been practised in the US for the past 15 years, and two research articles have been published on its effectiveness.

How does Therapeutic Listening work? 

Sound is a powerful way to access the nervous system and affect changes at all levels because the auditory system has connections to many parts of the brain. For example, sound and movement/gravity sensations (our vestibular sense) are both received by the apparatus in the inner ear, and share a nerve pathway to the brain. The auditory and the motor systems have links with each other in many areas of the brain too, for example in the cerebellum, for the purpose of timing of our movements with what we hear.  Rhythm is also widely distributed among the sensory and cognitive areas of the brain.

The sound stimulation used in Therapeutic Listening appears to 'set up' the nervous system, preparing the ground for developing skills. The music causes the muscles in the middle ear to contract, helping to discriminate and modulate sound input. In addition, the bones in the middle ear vibrate when exposed to sound, stimulating the vestibular and auditory sensory receptors in the inner ear. This sensory information is sent throughout the central nervous system causing a multitude of reactions. 

There are four nerves that are involved in the hearing process at the level of the middle ear and travel from the ear to the brain and back to other parts of our body, such as the muscles of facial expression, the digestive system, and the muscles of the heart, lungs and oral structures. So, through the use of sound therapy, such as Therapeutic Listening, you are stimulating both the muscles of the ear as well as the muscles of facial expression, the muscles responsible for respiration, the digestive system, and even the regulation of emotional and vocal responses. 

The physiological changes that occur during active listening, such as stilling of body movements, slower and deeper breathing and slower heart rate, are precursors for self-regulation, sensory modulation, attention, activation of core muscles, and provide foundations for social engagement and emotional regulation. 

Therapeutic Listening may be used for a child who: 

• Has difficulty understanding speech in noisy situations or hearing in groups
• Has trouble listening or becomes anxious or stressed when required to listen
• Has difficulty following directions
• Seems to hear, but not understand what people say
• Has trouble remembering what people say
• Has poor speech or language skills
• Has poor reading, phonics or spelling skills
• Is easily distracted
• Has impulsive behaviour
• Is disorganized
• Has poor peer relations
• Has poor self-esteem

Improvements that are seen include:

• Increased focus and attention
• Better moods
• Greater tolerance to noise
• Improved sleep
• Better handwriting
• Fewer tantrums
• Less anxiety
• Improved sensory modulation
• Improved motor skills

Parts adapted from “Listening with the Whole Body" by Sheila M. Frick, OTR/L, and Colleen
Hacker, MS. OTR/L.

Watch this Video clip on the effectiveness of Therapeutic Listening 

Go to Vital Links to find out more about Therapeutic Listening.