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Brain SystemsIt’s important to think of the brain as a series of systems, overlaid and inter-related. The cerebellum plays an important role in motor memory. Eric Courschene is a well known researcher whose work in autism autopsy studies has shown that there is a reduction and disarray in the number of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellums of people with autism. These are filtering neurons; they have much to do with the information that leaves the cerebellum to make its way to the frontal cortex. This deficit in the function of the cerebellum has a great effect on how the world may be perceived by a person with autism. The world may look very chaotic and incoherent. The cerebellum has a big job of coordinating the incoming visual, auditory and somatosensory information. Depending on how the information is filtered on its outgoing trip to the higher parts of the brain, the ability to shift attention from one sensory issue to the next is in peril. The cerebellum is recently been implicated in how one functions socially. It is an important area of the brain as the cerebellum is a star player in cognition. The cerebellum is a major association center a major switchboard in regulating attentional states. The brain relies upon a sensitive system of feedback loops. For instance, motor memory is achieved with a very sophisticated feedback system. In order for effective motor memories to operate the frontal cortex plans & organizes the events, while depending upon the basal ganglia & hippocampus to store memories in long-term storage banks. The frontal lobe is termed the brain’s executive function. Auditory Integration Training Outcomes And Brain Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity & The Changing Landscape Of Attention In The Brain For people with autism, information is unfiltered, poorly routed and they are unable to “pay attention”. The sensory information speeds along too fast for them to catch and process. Sensory integration must be intact in order for the perception of the world to make sense. This is the ability of the brain to make new connections and assume new roles. Plasticity follows an increase or decrease in sensory input. Neuroplasticity is concerned with taking over unused regions of the brain or remodeling the whole landscape. The simple act of paying attention can make physical changes within the brain. Attention is influenced by the limbic system & importantly the amygdala. Experience molds the brain, but only a brain that pays attention. Neuroplasticity or cortical reorganization is use induced. Schwartz & Begley Cells that fire together, wire together, strengthening the synaptic routings. This means that the cells must “practice together” over and over again. Motivation And EmotionEmotion is movement outward. It conveys our important internal states and needs. The limbic system is an incredibly interconnect circuitry which is the launching point for emotions. The upper cortex and the limbic system are in continuous feedback loop status.
Auditory Integration Training Studies PET Scan StudyThe first significant one is a PET scan study by High fill & Cimorelli, from North Carolina. This is single-subject study using Positron Emissions Testing to show the changes in the brain pre-AIT & Post-AIT. The PET scans show how much energy the brains use. The PET graphs show more efficient use of energy in more areas of the brain. This was an 8-year-old boy with mental retardation and autism. The results showed a “normalization” of brain wave activity including a decrease in hypermetabolism of the frontal lobe and an increase in activity in the occipital lobe. Occupational Therapists’ StudyThe second study mentioned in the slide is that of Sheila Frick and Nancy Lawton-Shirley, both occupational therapists, from Hudson, Wisconsin. They felt that changes brought about by Auditory Integration Training facilitated improvement in movement perception with people who experienced gravitational insecurity prior to training. They also noticed positive changes in overall arousal, organization and social-emotional responses. They used a case-study approach with two sets of identical twins. New Zealand Study There Are 28 Clinical Studies On Auditory Integration Training
Auditory Integration Training and the Counseling Center Why is auditory integration training sometimes appropriate treatment for individuals diagnosed with autism, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, hyperactivity, language impairments, and learning disabilities (LD), etc.? AIT was designed to normalize hearing. Distortions in hearing can sometimes be a significant contributing factor in the conditions listed above. Individuals with the abovementioned disorders can often have hearing that is disorganized, asymmetrical, hypersensitive or otherwise abnormal. One possibility is that some of these individuals are hypersensitive to certain frequencies of sound. For example, one individual might be hypersensitive to the frequencies of 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz while her perception of all other frequencies falls within the normal range. In this case, the individual might become overstimulated, disoriented or agitated in the presence of sounds at 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz. Another consideration is that an individual's hearing might be asymmetrical (signifiantly different between the two ears). When the right and left ears perceive sounds in an extremely different way, problems with sound discrimination can occur. PLEASE NOTE:Some people might think only about the workings of the inner ears when they consider "poor", "normal" or "good" hearing. For this reason, it's worth emphasizing that the brain is a crucial part of the auditory system. AIT was designed to normalize the entire auditory system, so it is also aimed at changing how the brain processes and organizes the input received from the ears. What does Auditory Integration Training involve? During Auditory Integration Training, music from a stereo system (i.e., CD or cassette player) is sent through a specialized electronic device. The electronic device randomizes and filters the frequencies from the music source and sends these modified sounds into the trainee's ears through a set of headphones. The randomized frequencies mobilize and exercise the inner ear and brain. For example, the sound waves vibrate and exercise the muscles that control the three ossicles (the small bones in the middle ear). It is important to note that if the trainee's audiogram has indicated a hypersensitivity to certain frequencies, the electronic device will modulate and control the volume of those particularly sensitive frequencies. The training is structured as follows:
What improvements have been reported by teachers, parents and trainees after completion of Auditory Integration Training?
Are there any risks associated with AIT? Is Auditory Integration Training available in many locations in the United States? AIT first received extensive national attention when excerpts from The Sound of a Miracle: A Child's Triumph Over Autism were published in Reader's Digest in December 1990. References to scientific studies regarding Auditory Integration Therapy are available through our newer web site: auditoryintegration.net. A summary of research on A.I.T. is available through Autism Research Institute (ARI) at:
Auditory Integration Training Services What Is Auditory Integration Training Or AIT?Berard Auditory Integration Training or Berard AIT was developed by Dr. Guy Berard, an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat or ENT physician) in Annecy, France. Dr. Guy Berard originally invented AIT to rehabilitate disorders of the auditory system, such as hearing loss or hearing distortion (hypersensitive, hyposensitive, or asymmetrical hearing). After 35+ years of clinical practice and study, Dr. Berard determined that, in many cases, distortions in hearing or auditory processing contribute to behavioral or learning disorders. In the large majority of Dr. Berard's cases, AIT significantly reduced some or many of the handicaps associated with autism spectrum disorders, central auditory processing disorders (CAPD), speech and language disorders, sensory issues including auditory, tactile or other sensory sensitivities (hyper or hypo), dyslexia, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression. Berard Auditory Integration Training was designed to normalize hearing and the ways in which the brain processes auditory information. For example, an individual tests as hypersensitive to the frequencies of 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz while perception of all other frequencies falls within the normal range. The individual becomes overstimulated, disoriented or agitated in the presence of sounds at 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz. Therefore, Berard AIT works to normalize the hearing response across all frequencies within the normal hearing range. In another example, an individual's hearing is asymmetrical (significantly different between the two ears). When the right and left ears perceive sounds in an extremely different way, problems with sound discrimination can occur. Again, Berard AIT works to normalize the hearing of both ears. Frequently Asked QuestionsWho is a good candidate? What is the minimum/maximum age that someone can complete AIT? Is this covered by my insurance? Is financial aid available? Do you offer an "In-Home" program? What equipment do I need? Is there any research on AIT? How many sessions do we need? Is this something we do just once? Which treatment should be done first? Do you offer the Berard method of AIT? What is the difference between the Berard method and others such as Tomatis or Samonas? My child can be difficult to work with. How can I get him/her to wear the headphones? Do you have references?
Autism Research Institute (ARI) Auditory integration training (AIT) was developed by Guy Berard in Annecy, France to help people with auditory processing problems. According to Dr. Berard, processing problems may occur if one hears some sound frequencies much better than other frequencies. For example, a person may be hypersensitive to the frequencies 2,000 and 8,000 Hertz, but hear all the other frequencies in the spectrum at a normal level. The frequencies to which a person is hypersensitive are referred to as 'auditory peaks,' and these peaks take on the appearance of a mountain range in one's audiogram. AIT is accomplished by a device which randomly selects high and low frequencies from a music source (a cassette or CD player), and then sends these sounds via headphones to the trainee. In addition, if the trainee has auditory peaks in his/her hearing (as evident from an audiogram), those frequencies are filtered out completely (blocked out) or partially (stressed at only a low level) from the music. The trainee receives AIT twice a day, each time for 1/2 hour, for ten days. During the first five hours of AIT, the sound level for both ears is equal. For those individuals who have speech and language impairments, the sound level is reduced in the left ear after five hours of training. Since the right ear is connected more directly to the left hemisphere than the right hemisphere, and since the left hemisphere is responsible for processing speech and language, Dr. Berard believes that a higher sound level in the right ear will stimulate the left hemisphere. An audiotest is conducted prior to the first listening session to determine whether the person has auditory peaks; a second audiotest is given after five hours of listening to determine whether the auditory peaks are still present and whether new peaks have developed; and a third audiotest is given after the completion of the listening sessions. According to Dr. Berard, after completion of the program, all frequencies should be perceived equally well; and the person should no longer have peaks in his/her hearing. One caution: As Dr. Berard informed us and as we have noted independently, some people exhibit unexpected behavioral problems during the 10-day AIT period, such as agitation, hyperactivity, and rapid mood swings. Similar problems are reported for more traditional forms of sensory integration therapy. We are unsure of the reasons for these behaviors. One explanation is that these behaviors are occurring as a direct result of receiving AIT. However, it is also possible that these problems may be a result of changes in the person's eating patterns and activity level during the 10-day period. We have noticed that parents often coax their son/daughter with candy and junk food so they will sit quietly during the listening sessions. To support this observation, we observed such problems in both those individuals who received AIT and those who received a placebo in our pilot study on AIT. At this point in time, we do not have enough data to determine which, if either, of these explanations is correct. Based on our own experience, and our conversations with Dr. Cecile Wuarin, the psychologist who worked with Dr. Berard, we feel that parents/caretakers should receive pre- and after-care consultation so they will be made aware of and be able to deal constructively with possible changes they may see in their son/daughter. For example, one possible change is an increase in attention span. If a person has a short attention span, it may be easy to redirect him/her away from a toy or task. However, if the person's attention span increases, he/she may become more stubborn and more difficult to redirect because his/her attention span is much longer. Other behavioral changes may include an increase in emotional behavior (e.g., anger, crying, reacting to other people crying), independence (e.g., leaving an area without permission), and social growth (e.g., increased interaction). We agree with Dr. Wuarin when she states that if the trainee changes, the family must also change in how they perceive and interact with their son/daughter. This failure to change is evident when a parent reports that their son/daughter is "on their nerves" because they are not acting the way they used to act. One goal of AIT is to get them "to act" more adaptively and age-appropriately. Recognition of this is essential (e.g., an 18-year-old who wants to go to bed at 11 P.M. instead of her current bedtime of 8 P.M.). In general, we believe that since understanding and working effectively with autistic people is much different than understanding and working with people with other disorders (e.g., mental retardation), pre- and after-care consultation should be handled by professionals who have experience working with autistic individuals. At the present time, we do not know exactly how AIT may affect a person's behavior. One possible explanation is that AIT is actually conditioning the person to shift his/her attention more easily. Dr. Eric Courchesne of Children's Hospital in San Diego has recently found that autistic individuals have much difficulty shifting his/her attention from one stimulus to another stimulus. Since high and low frequency sounds are sent randomly to the trainee, AIT may be teaching the person how to shift his/her attention more rapidly and effortlessly; as a result, they may be better able to attend and thus understand the contingencies related to sounds and movement (e.g., hand gestures). Another possible explanation relates to the fact that autistic people are often described as "tuning out" others in their environment. By sending high and low frequency sounds randomly, the person cannot anticipate the sounds; and thus, he/she cannot tune them out. As a result, they are, in effect, being trained to "tune in." If one or both of these explanations are correct, then it is possible that individuals who do not have auditory peaks may also benefit from AIT. Finally, it is possible that the person starts to perceive sounds, especially speech, more clearly; and as a result, he/she will be better able to learn relationships between a sound and a behavior, object, action, and event. Even though all three explanations listed above are hypothetical, they do suggest how a person may possibly benefit from receiving AIT.
Jeena - Hope For KidsAuditory Integration TherapyAIT generally consists of a prescribed amount of time spent each day listening to a recording that uses a particular combination of sound waves to retrain the ear. The assumption is that individuals sometimes have difficulty processing the things they hear due to inaccurate intake. Even though the AIT is effective for many kids, there may/not be some aggressive behaviors (or other behaviors), which may last for a few weeks after the treatment. Three Popular types of AIT
Berard AIT
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Auditory Integration TrainingAuditory integration training (AIT) is a program designed to treat auditory processing disorders (APD) (previously termed central auditory processing disorders or CAPD). AIT is an intervention that aims to help an individual make the most use of his or her residual hearing, and so improve the ability to understand speech and sounds in the environment (Davis 1999, 189). AIT typically involves 20 half-hour sessions of listening to specially modulated music over a 10- to 20-day period. The program was pioneered by Alfred A. Tomatis and Dr. Guy Berard. Conventional audiology and medical organisations consider it to be an experimental procedure. Auditory integration training (AIT) aims to address the sensory problems such as hearing distortions, hyper-acute hearing, and sensory processing anomalies, which are said to cause discomfort and confusion in persons suffering from learning disabilities, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders. These hypersensitivities are believed to interfere with a child’s attention, comprehension, and ability to learn. The training typically involves the child attending two 30 minute sessions per day for ten days. The child listens to a musical program through headphones. The program is modified for each child with certain frequencies of sound filtered using an electronic device called an Audio-Kinetron. |