Therapeutic Listening

Does your child cover his or her ears in response to ordinary sounds? 

If you answered YES, Therapeutic Listening is an evidenced-based intervention that may help your child decrease sound sensitivity, which can help your child enjoy and participate in age-appropriate activities.

We have successful experiences using Therapeutic Listening in early childhood through school age children.

What is Therapeutic Listening?

Therapeutic Listening is an evidence-based auditory intervention, designed to support individuals who experience challenges with sensory processing dysfunction, as well as deficits in listening, attention, and communication.

Therapeutic Listening uses electronically altered music that provides the listener with unique and precisely controlled auditory stimulation, which naturally benefits attention and activate body movements. Therapeutic Listening also uses organized rhythmical sound patterns inherent in music to trigger the self-organizing capacities of the nervous system.  


Therapeutic Listening Protocol

The protocol requires individuals to listen to two daily sessions (20-30 minutes) with at least 3 hours in between each session using specialized headphones. The music selections are played during functional activities (i.e. art projects, gross/fine motor activities, eating) at a normal conversational volume level, where the listener is not speaking louder than his/her typical voice.

Our Process

Occupational Therapy/Therapeutic Listening Evaluation
The evaluation process will begin with a parent/caregiver interview and short questionnaire to help understand the child’s background history/needs. The child will be introduced to a variety of activities along with formal and informal assessments. The child will be introduced to Therapeutic Listening using sterilized headphones while the child is engaged in a hands-on activity. Different music choices may be explored depending on the child’s response and to ensure a good-strategic match for an individualized music program. Further details along with specific instructions will be provided following the evaluation.

Occupational Therapy/Therapeutic Listening
Depending on the evaluation results and family/caregiver goals, the child will be visited at their home or at an alternative planned location either weekly or at a minimum of once every other week. Visits are 45 minutes long. As per the Therapeutic Listening protocol, music selections are changed every other week. All therapy sessions will focus on achieving therapeutic goals in collaboration with family/child centered care.

Equipment
Families/Caregivers are responsible for purchasing the Therapeutic Listening designated headphones and  music player. SanDisc chips with the designated music selection will be lent every other week. Music chips that are lost or misplaced are subject to a $50 replacement fee. Click here to order the designated equipment.

Successful Stories

5th Grade Student with Autism and Auditory Sensitivity

The student attended a regular education classroom and was performing at the top of her class. However, she significantly struggled with sounds. The student held her ears and cried at the sound of chairs dragging on the floor, as well as the overcrowded lunchroom, gym, and auditorium. Given her sensitivity to sound, she did not participate in many school functions, including eating with her peers in the lunchroom or participating in Field Day outdoor activities. After using Therapeutic Listening for about 2-3 months, the student and her teacher had reported improvements in her ability to tolerate typical classroom sounds. She began to tolerate eating with her peers in the cafeteria, increased her participation in the classroom, and participated in her first Field Day celebration with excitement. Given her academic success, she was awarded Crown Victorian. This 5th grade student delivered a speech to a large audience that was memorable to her family and teachers who worked with her since Kindergarten! Below is a testimonial from the 5th grade student

Poster Presentation 

The Role of Therapeutic Listening in Social Participation for Preschoolers with Specials Needs 

Developed and presented by the founder of Bridging Abilities OT, PLLC

The Case Study design reviewed 4-preschool students who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and presented with auditory sensitivity. Following the use of Therapeutic Listening, 3 out of the 4 children significantly improved in their ability to tolerate loud noises. The conclusion from the study suggests that Therapeutic Listening, used in conjunction with a collaborative approach, can improve social participation in preschoolers with auditory sensitivity.