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
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. The auditory system, vestibular system and brain are trained for optimal performance. New brain pathways grow in response to the sound stimulation and connect important sensory, motor, emotional and cognitive areas for necessary, integrated functioning.
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 head injury.
A number of Tomatis-based listening training programs are offered by Brain Works. The Dynamic Listening System is used for auditory training at the center. The iLs Focus, iLs Kick Start, The Listening Program (TLP) and Specialized TLP CDs are home programs that can be used in the home, school or business with supervision from Brain Works. 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 Brain Works at (888) 379-1981
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iLs Focus
The iLs Focus, is a portable Tomatis-based listening training technology, is designed to be used for home, school or corporate use. The equipment includes an 80G iPod, bone conduction headphones and a mini-amplifier to control the volume and bone conduction. Also included is an Integration Kit with visual, motor and balance activities to be done while listening. A Playbook User Guide includes graphics and descrtiptions to help users do the movement activities that complement the listening component.
The iLs Focus 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.
Each iLs Focus unit comes with 5 programs, which are selected for the individual needs of the client. The programs include (1) Sensory Motor, (2) Reading/Phonemic Awareness and Auditory Processing, (3) Concentration and Attention, (4) Teen/Adult Optimal Performance, and (5) Spectrum Protocol. Listening is done for 15 minutes to an hour a day depending upon the age and needs of the individual. Assessments, questionnaires and an interview are used to individualize each listening program. The iLs Focus auditory program is closely monitored via weekly phone supervision.
As a home program, the iLs listening training program is ideal for out-of-town clients.
Contact Brain Works at 1-888-379-1981
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iLs Kick Start
The iLs Kick Start is a Tomatis-based auditory training system, which delivers a 12-week program via a 4 GB Nano iPod and a Sennheiser EH-350 air conduction (not bone) headphones. Included is the Integration Kit for visual, motor and balance activities to be done while listening. A Playbook User Guide includes graphics and descriptions to help users do the movement actities that complement the listening component.
The auditory training program can be shortened or lengthened depending on the user's needs. The progression of the frequency filtration is more gradual than the programs on the Focus. The sequence of the filtered music takes the listener through the Sensory Motor Phase, Communication Phase and the Integration Phase. As with the Focus, the iLs Kick Start music has gating to exercise the middle ear muscles and filtration to retrain the brain.
Listening is done for an 15 minutes to an hour a day depending upon the age and needs of the individual. Assessments, questionnaires and an interview are used to individualize each listening program. The iLs Kick Start requires periodic supervision.
The iLs Kick Start is ideal for out-of-town clients.
Contact Brain Works at 1-888-379-1981
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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 can be purchased from Brain Works, are an essential element for The Listening Program. The recommended Frequency Response of 21,000 Hertz or higher are meet the qualifications recommended by the maker of the TLP. 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 Brain Works at (888) 379-1981
