What is The Listening Program?
The Listening Program is a
sound-based listening intervention created by
Advanced Brain Technologies, LLC.
Like many other sound-based listening interventions, The Listening Program is based on the work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, the first to recognize: "The voice can only produce what the ear has been able to hear." Although Tomatis held controversial theories about the contribution of mothers to their children's autism—theories with scant evidence for them and much evidence against them—Tomatis was also a pioneer in modifying sound frequencies to effect changes in sound perception, and he was among the first scientists to recognize the extensive role of the cochlear-vestibular nerve in (a) regulating human perception of sound frequencies and inertia and (b) allowing for human perception of acoustics and balance. These perceptions work in tandem with tactile perception, muscle tone, and vision to effect good visual-spatial integration.
Like many other sound-based listening interventions, The Listening Program is based on the principle of neuroplasticity.
The Listening Program is also among the most gentle of the sound-based listening interventions, making it frequently compatible with HANDLE®'s philosophy of Gentle Enhancement®—and HANDLE®'s use of at-home, parent- or peer-monitored neurodevelopmental training.
For more information on neuroplasticity and Gentle Enhancement®, click the "window shades" below:
Like many other sound-based listening interventions, The Listening Program is based on the work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, the first to recognize: "The voice can only produce what the ear has been able to hear." Although Tomatis held controversial theories about the contribution of mothers to their children's autism—theories with scant evidence for them and much evidence against them—Tomatis was also a pioneer in modifying sound frequencies to effect changes in sound perception, and he was among the first scientists to recognize the extensive role of the cochlear-vestibular nerve in (a) regulating human perception of sound frequencies and inertia and (b) allowing for human perception of acoustics and balance. These perceptions work in tandem with tactile perception, muscle tone, and vision to effect good visual-spatial integration.
Like many other sound-based listening interventions, The Listening Program is based on the principle of neuroplasticity.
The Listening Program is also among the most gentle of the sound-based listening interventions, making it frequently compatible with HANDLE®'s philosophy of Gentle Enhancement®—and HANDLE®'s use of at-home, parent- or peer-monitored neurodevelopmental training.
For more information on neuroplasticity and Gentle Enhancement®, click the "window shades" below:
Neuroplasticity
"Neuroplasticity" refers to an understanding that the
brain changes in response to specific stimuli.
Specifically, neurons grow in response to stimuli
that are done often (frequency), are sufficient to
require attention but not overwhelming (intensity),
are done consistently (regularity), last only so long
as holds attention (duration), are purposeful
(intentional, goal-directed), and/or are surprising
(novel).
The Listening Program is generally done twice daily (frequency), with gradual transitions to and from specially gated music so as not to overwhelm (intensity). It must be done consistently (regularity) to see desired effects. It uses specially gated music to trigger bursts of attention (duration) to particular frequencies; attention doesn't need to be directed exclusively toward the CDs for the program to work. Background distractions like TV and internal distractions like chewing gum are disallowed, but activities that don't directly compete with listening—like sketching, bird watching, or looking at picture books—are fine. Since not all listening is purposeful (intentional, goal-directed), the special processing applied to the music is crucial to ensure surprise (novelty).
The Listening Program is generally done twice daily (frequency), with gradual transitions to and from specially gated music so as not to overwhelm (intensity). It must be done consistently (regularity) to see desired effects. It uses specially gated music to trigger bursts of attention (duration) to particular frequencies; attention doesn't need to be directed exclusively toward the CDs for the program to work. Background distractions like TV and internal distractions like chewing gum are disallowed, but activities that don't directly compete with listening—like sketching, bird watching, or looking at picture books—are fine. Since not all listening is purposeful (intentional, goal-directed), the special processing applied to the music is crucial to ensure surprise (novelty).
Gentle Enhancement®
One feature that sets The Listening Program apart
from other sound-based listening interventions is its
use of gradual transitions from "normal" music that
hasn't been specially processed through a computer,
to "processed" music, and back again to "normal"
music—each and every session.
Students whose other sensory needs are being addressed through HANDLE®, when they are ready for a sound-based listening intervention, generally have little difficulty listening to "normal" music. Listening to music in which high-spectrum sound has been amplified and low-spectrum sound has been extremely dampened can be irritating… and a bit disconcerting, even for people without auditory processing difficulties. Thus, having a program gently shepherd a listener into listening to processed music… and then back again before a session is over… is a tremendous help toward ensuring Gentle Enhancement®—the HANDLE® principle of stopping an activity when a person's nervous system has been stressed and is showing signs its sensory organs and perceptual systems may be getting overwhelmed.
By using gradual transitions from "normal" to "processed" music, and back again, The Listening Program greatly curtails the onslaught of demanding auditory information that many other programs provide suddenly. For this reason, The Listening Program can often be recommended in tandem to an at-home HANDLE® Program, usually when auditory processing difficulties remain after many weeks' work on the vestibular system.
Students whose other sensory needs are being addressed through HANDLE®, when they are ready for a sound-based listening intervention, generally have little difficulty listening to "normal" music. Listening to music in which high-spectrum sound has been amplified and low-spectrum sound has been extremely dampened can be irritating… and a bit disconcerting, even for people without auditory processing difficulties. Thus, having a program gently shepherd a listener into listening to processed music… and then back again before a session is over… is a tremendous help toward ensuring Gentle Enhancement®—the HANDLE® principle of stopping an activity when a person's nervous system has been stressed and is showing signs its sensory organs and perceptual systems may be getting overwhelmed.
By using gradual transitions from "normal" to "processed" music, and back again, The Listening Program greatly curtails the onslaught of demanding auditory information that many other programs provide suddenly. For this reason, The Listening Program can often be recommended in tandem to an at-home HANDLE® Program, usually when auditory processing difficulties remain after many weeks' work on the vestibular system.