David, who was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, came to Center for Listening & Learning just before his fifth birthday. At that time, he had one-way language, which only had meaning for him. By the completion of his listening training program, David was quite a conversationalist. He initiated conversation, could speak in full sentences, and was able to understand, when he was reasoned with. David and his parents are less frustrated, since he can make his needs understood. In addition, the neighbor children will play with David, because he talks in a way they can relate to!
Listening Training Programs
Sound has great power. Thunder can shake a house, a singer’s high note can crack a glass, and the gentle voice of a mother can soothe a baby’s emotions.
Since the 1950’s, we have been learning about the great influence that sound, and particularly specially engineered music based on the principles of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, has on the functioning of the ears, the body and the brain. The auditory system in the ears passes the energy of sound on to the brain and to the rest of the nervous system of the body. People of all ages around the world have benefited from the remarkable effects of auditory training with modified music.
Those who have benefited have experienced the reduction of symptoms associated with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, listening comprehension/auditory processing difficulties, ADD/ADHD, autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays, speech disorders, sensory integration disorders, stroke and mild head injury.
The following listening training programs are offered by Center for Listening & Learning. The Dynamic Listening System is used for auditory training at the center. The JoEE, MX Pro, The Listening Program and the Specialized TLP CDs are purchased and used in the home, school or business with supervision from Center for Listening & Learning. Because of the need for supervision, each listening program can only be acquired by calling the center.
Dynamic Listening System (DLS)
The Dynamic Listening System (DLS), used at Center for Listening & Learning, provides clients with direct supervision in a peaceful atmosphere. The DLS is the first digital signal processing system to be designed for Tomatis-based auditory training.
Beautiful Mozart music and soothing Gregorian chant flow from the state-of-the-art DLS equipment through the high quality headphones used by the listener. During an auditory training session, children have fun playing with toys, games, puzzles and crafts such as beading, drawing and painting. Adults relax with puzzles, mindbenders, crafts, and any hobbies they bring along. Some even nap in a recliner.
The DLS auditory training program uses gating to exercise the middle ear muscles for better focus and less background noise interference, filtration to retrain the brain to hear the differences in speech sounds and to strengthen the body’s coordination, bone conduction headphones to accelerate the therapeutic effects of the listening training, mother’s voice when appropriate for children’s listening development, and voice work to train the ears to use the voice to energize the brain and to create clarity when speaking or singing.
The auditory training consists of 31 sessions, which are 80 minutes in length. There are three phases divided into 15, 8, and 8 day sessions. The phases are separated by 3 to 6 weeks breaks to allow the brain to assimilate the changes in its neurology. Assessments, questionnaires, interviews, observations of the parent or client and periodic reassessments are used to individualize the listening program to meet each person’s needs. In the months following a listening program, some clients benefit greatly from a continuation or Boost Program, which may last from 8 to 15 days.
Out-of-town clients are assisted in finding accommodations suitable for extended stays.
Contact Center for Listening & Learning at (888) 379-1981
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iListen JoEE™
The iListen™ JoEE, the center’s newest, portable Tomatis-based listening training technology, is designed to be used for home, school or corporate use. The equipment an iPod, small amplifier and bone conduction headphones. All of the modified music is uncompressed and stored on an iPod, which eliminates the need for tapes or CDs. The equipment is purchased by the individual or family, which allows for a lifetime of use.
Beautiful Mozart music and soothing Gregorian chant are the music of choice with the JoEE. Clients are able to benefit from the healing effects of the music as they do fun activities, go for a walk or take a nap.
The JoEE listening training program uses gating to exercise the middle ear muscles for better focus and less background noise interference, filtration to retrain the brain to hear the differences in speech sounds and to strengthen the body’s coordination, and bone conduction headphones to accelerate the therapeutic effects of the listening training program.
The JoEE auditory training program consists of 20 to 80-minute sessions depending upon the age and needs of the individual. Assessments, questionnaires, interviews and observations of the parent or client are used to individualize each listening program.
The length of the program, which is approximately 31 days, is determined by the goals set by the adult client or child's parents in conjunction with the center supervisor. Breaks are taken between phases to allow the brain to assimilate the changes in its neurology. The JoEE auditory program is closely monitored via weekly phone supervision.
As a home program, the JoEE listening training program is ideal for out-of-town clients.
Contact Center for Listening & Learning at (888) 379-1981
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Listening Program® (TLP)
The Listening Program® (TLP) is a program for home, school and corporate use. The TLP kit consists of 10 one-hour CDs containing very effective modified classical music and nature sounds. San Francisco’s Arcangelos Chamber Ensemble recorded the beautiful music heard on the CDs to exacting specifications. The music and patent-pending production treatments are designed to stimulate, or “exercise,” the different functions of the auditory processing system and the brain.
Gently alternating the volume of different instruments is used to exercise the middle ear muscles to “tune in” to desired sounds and “tune out” background noise. Spatial dynamics, moving the sound position of different instruments forward, backward, or side-to-side, trains the brain to perceive the position of sound in time and space. Filtration, or letting only certain frequencies through, is used to train the brain to discriminate among speech sounds and the body to strengthen in balance and muscle tone.
Listening sessions are 15 to 30 minutes per day 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Many people find it advantageous to repeat the Listening Program once or several times to help regulate their auditory system. Since the TLP® kit is owned by client, repetition is easily done when convenient. Assessments, questionnaires, interviews and observations of the parent or client are used to determine the needs and the progress of the listener during the listening program.
Higher quality headphones, which are purchased separately, are an essential element for The Listening Program® as they preserve the special sound processing techniques and full spectrum frequency built into each CD. Sennheiser, Sony and Grado headphones with a Frequency Response of 21,000 Hertz or higher are meet the qualifications recommended by the maker of the program. The high frequency response is necessary in order to benefit from the higher frequencies in the music.
Approved CD players for the TLP® include the higher quality anti-skip portable CD player (sport models are good), a component stereo system without use of mega bass or Dolby noise reduction (left and right speakers must be balanced), a high quality bookshelf stereo or a DVD player which plays music CDs. AVOID boom boxes, CD-ROM on a computer or a car CD player.
The Listening Training Program® is ideal for out-of-town clients.
Contact Center for Listening & Learning at (888) 379-1981
