Listening Therapy?

[Essy]

Just wondering if anyone here has done this and what type of results you've had. We are borrowing the headphones for the next couple of weeks from the OT and will be trying it at home to see if it is worth buying.

[Jo in PRC]

We did this for about two months with Anna. We also borrowed the headset and CDs. Our OT was really excited about it. For us, it seemed that Anna became more agitated after listening therapy. We kept trying for awhile as the OT was thinking that she would eventually settle down (sort of working her way through the hard part). We ended up not buying it because it just didn't seem to be helping. Of course, every child is different. Anna's brain wiring is completely messed up so things that typically help other kids often don't work for her. Can you continue to borrow the Headset for awhile and see if you see any results before buying? I know that some people have really responded well to listening therapy.

[Essy]

We can only borrow them for two weeks. I'm hoping that will be long enough to be able to tell either way. Thanks for telling me your story, it's good to know all the possibilities.

[Greta]

I have The Listening Program. I used it with my ds (autism). He really enjoyed doing it but he did get agitated once in a while. I think that the results related to auditory skills were fantastic. His auditory processing was awful and he had trouble with sound localization. Both of those have improved dramatically, and I can't attribute the improvement to anything else. I don't know that it had any other effects on sensory or behavioral issues except that his behavior did improve as he could better understand our communication.

My youngest ds is 3 and is speech delayed. When we officially start our school year in a few weeks, I am planning to have both of my younger boys go through at least one 10 week cycle of this program.

[Essy]

Wow Great, that's pretty encouraging. Now when you say that he became agitated...do you mean right away while listening or did this happen some time later? My son seems to zone out a little while listening...but he did act a bit strange at other times yesterdayt but I assumed it was something that he ate (we are also doing Feingold).

[mariah m]

We are getting ready to start but have to wait until Nicolas' ears clear up. We are having some problems with wax and swimmers ear. Our OT is very enthusiastic about it.

[Leslie Nelsen]

Hi Essy,

We've also done the Listening Program and had good results from it with my 5yo. Most of the improvement we saw was an ability to tolerate much more auditory stimulus. He has sensory processing disorder and is "defensive" meaning he could not handle much noise - other people in the room at therapy at times was just too much. As we did the listening, he was able to tolerate much more going on around him without being upset or bothered. It seemed calming for him.

We had been warned that it might be hard for him physically to listen to the tapes, but he never seemed bothered or agitated by them.

I hope you are able to see if this is something that will work for y'all. Two weeks doesn't seem like a very long time to me. :group:

[Greta]

Now when you say that he became agitated...do you mean right away while listening or did this happen some time later?

He would get agitated while he was listening, but this was infrequent.

[Jo in PRC]

For Anna the agitation was immediate...squirming, crying, clenched teeth, etc. Then even after we'd finished the listening time, she would continue to be fussy and more easily upset. The funny part was, she loved the songs and loved doing her therapy and really couldn't connect that it was making her feel bad. Our therapist had us keep a chart of listening time and meltdowns to see if there was any correlation. But keep in mind, Anna's brain wiring is completely messed up so I think her experience was unusual.

[Essy]

It's definitely making some kind of impact here. The first day he seemed to develop a headache while listening to it and took a nap right afterwards and felt better. The next couple of times it seemed to set him off...he got very emotional, crying alot and alternating from telling me that he was sad to telling me that he was mad...hmmm. This is all while listening...but after the fact, I've noticed much better communication. Like a light switch was being turned on...and that was both good and bad...good for the obvious reasons, but my easy going boy that didn't care less what his sister says or does to him seems to be coming into his own...lol.

Yesterday they were all outside playing, when I came out to check on them...my son was just sitting still in a chair next to his dad, just relaxing. It actually alarmed me...lol.


Today he did his listening this morning without any reactions at all. And so far he's just playing normally, but not spinning or crashing...and his communication is amazing. It's only been a few days, so I almost can't believe it yet...but I guess time will tell if it's real or a fluke. (I'm weary of posting this next part because I don't want to jinx it...but he's also been sleeping through the night in his own bed...shhhh).

[Jeannine]

Essy,

I'm glad he is doing better. Our OT cautioned us on the possible side effects. Fortunately Madeline didn't have any. The first CD is a little weird, but they get better. Madeline actually enjoys it now. She colors while listening for 20 minutes each day. The CD is switched every two weeks. We and the OT have seen the same results as Leslie. Madeline use to be so distracted by all of the noise in therapy, but now is able to concentrate on her work. We finished the entire program and are starting over because of the great results we experienced. :clap:

My daughter has mild CP & developmental and cognitive delays secondary to spending 4 1/2 years in an orphanage.

[Lisalyn]

I have just started investigating this. Do your children all have a tendency toward hypersensitivity? Eli is hyposensitive for the most part. Does this matter?
Is this something I need to talk to OT about?
(Help.):D

[Essy]

I have just started investigating this. Do your children all have a tendency toward hypersensitivity? Eli is hyposensitive for the most part. Does this matter?
Is this something I need to talk to OT about?
(Help.):D

My son is a sensory seeker, so I guess he'd tend towards the hyposensitive side of things too. I would definitely ask the OT about it if I were you.

[Lisalyn]

Essy,
Thanks. I think I will bring this up with OT. I read that line you posted earlier about 'not spinning or crashing' and thought maybe I should seriously consider this. Eli is a big crasher.

[Esther-Alabama]

Can anyone post a link to this program? How much does it cost? What types of behaviors can it help?

Thanks in advance.

[Essy]

I found this site with a list of what it can help. http://www.sensorysystemsclinic.com/Therapeutic%20Listening%20Program.htm
We are doing this through the OT and will have to buy the head phones...I think those are around $148.00 or something like that. We also get a new CD every couple of weeks for $10.

[Esther-Alabama]

Thank you, Essy. That helps a lot.
Anyone doing this independently at home?

[EJ IA]

My ds has been doing Vital Link's listening therapy program since April and the results for him have been amazing. We were quite skeptical of the program, but within a week of starting it, he was sleeping through the night (at 4yo he didn't do that at ALL). I can't remember how many cds he's done at this point, but he did have strong, awful reactions during the first day of his second cd. His OT requested that we try it the 2nd day and if he didn't improve, we would go ahead and switch to a different one. He wound up doing better with it the 2nd day but he most definitely did not like that one at all!

We've seen dramatic differences in reduction of auditory defensiveness and marked improvements in his vestibular function and spatial awareness. This from the kid we nicknamed Kramer because of his clumsiness. :)

[Essy]

Well, we had to stop it because our insurance limit on OT visits is almost up. I'm so bummed.

[EJ IA]

Bummer!

Is there any way the OT would let you keep doing it while "under supervision" via e-mail? My ds started listening therapy about a month and a half before he had a weekly OT slot and his OT let us just report in via e-mail and in person when we checked out another cd.

I'm sorry; we're going to run out of sessions next month and while we're going to ask our insurance company for more sessions I have no idea whether the request will be approved or not. Our OT told me that it's pretty hit or miss with our company with what they allow or deny. :unsure:

[Essy]

She spoke to her supervisors and we'd still have to be enrolled with them to continue...and private pay is pretty expensive. I also called our insurance to exted coverage and they told me that it was my husband's company that set the limit on the number of visits...arghhh. It's all so frustrating...first getting a correct diagnoses and then the treatment. Just when you think you are getting ahead, something else sets you back. The OT is going to give me a list of things to do at home though...so hopefully that will be helpful.

[EJ IA]

Ugh, I'm so sorry! I feel for you. :sad:

[mariah m]

We are two weeks into this now and while I don't see any huge improvements...

Nicolas made some actual attempts to ride his scooter

and

He actually sat long enough at the cardiologists' for them to get a decent look at his heart function.

This is all huge because he is so out of whack that balancing freaks him out.