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Therapeutic Programs
Listening Therapy
WHAT IS IT?
Sound has a profound effect on living systems. Unlike light, which bounces off the body, sound goes directly in. The vagus nerve, which connects the ear to the brain, also connects the ear to nearly every organ in the body. Have you ever gone into a teenager's room, and felt like the music rattled you from head to toe? It did! Literally, inside and out.
Many studies have been done to understand the effect of noise on people and nature. In 1975, a study done by researcher Arline Bronzaft found that children on the train track side of a New York public school lagged a year behind in learning to read when compared to their classmates on the other side of the building. Other studies have found the same learning difficulties for children living near airports.
The learning environment for the average student today is bursting with distracting, everyday noise. Overhead lights emit low buzzing sounds. Air conditioners, computers, traffic and construction noise, and voices in the cafeteria or gym classes bombard students' brains and compete for their attention. This seemingly continuous barrage of environmental noise is a constant source of stress in an already stress-filled society.
Yet, the brain needs sound. A diet of healthy sound can have amazing effects on our learning, communication, emotions, relationships, sleep, coordination, creativity, organization and general sense of well-being.
A Look at Auditory Processing (The Technical Process)
In order to think about and understand language, an auditory stimulus (sound) has to be received by the outer ear and channeled through the middle and inner ear to the auditory nerve. The ear's job at this point is hearing. Once the signal is transferred from the inner ear to the eighth auditory nerve, it goes on a journey through the brainstem and the brain on its way to the cortex where language is processed. The Central Auditory Nervous System (CANS), where this journey takes place, is an intricate system dedicated to dealing with auditory information. When the signal gets to an area of the brain called Heschl's Gyrus the transition from auditory processing to language processing begins. It is at this point that the brain begins to process speech
For information about the behaviors to look for, that may mean a child needs help through Listening Therapy, see SIGNS YOUR CHILD NEEDS HELP.
In order to commence services a child must have a CHILD SUCCESS CENTER® assessment or a current evaluation from an outside party. The evaluation process supports a successful outcome. See ASSESSMENTS for more information regarding CSC Assessments.
SIGNS YOUR CHILD NEEDS HELP.
Your bright child may need our help if you recognize some of the following behaviors:
- Daydreaming/Forgetfulness
- Excessive talking in class
- Inability to sit still
- Difficulty with time concepts in school
- Inability to complete school work
- Dislike of school
- Increased anxiety and tension
- Low self-confidence
- Increased frustration
- Attention seeking
- Temper tantrums
- Easily upset in new situations
- Irritability
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Disobedience
- Rowdiness
- Oppositional behavior
To ask questions of a trained professional in Listening Therapy, call the CHILD SUCCESS CENTER®
at (310) 899-9597.
If you would like more information on therapeutic listening, click here
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