Talk to me about Berard AIT

[abc12345]

I'm considering this for my son with sensory and processing issues because of the good things I've heard about it (mainly on here!)

He has had an NHS hearing test and that was fine.

Does anyone have any experience of this program? Good or bad? It's a lot of money so I'd really appreciate some advice!!

I'm looking at someone in Henley...

[abc12345]

I've also seen a distance program that you can do at home. Will this be as good as the one with a practitioner?

[tartanterror]

Don't know about AIT but we did a home programme of iLS. DS (was 7) seemed slightly calmer and his body awareness/balance improved. He remembered and used people's names better. It's not a magic wand. I do slightly wonder whether listening to prosodic music of any kind (Mozart and disney songs/folk music with a female singer) might have similar effects but I can't know! I'd say that a home programme was essential as it is a pain to fit into daily life, also fitting in travel would make it really awkward.

[outputgap]

Ooh, also interested in this. Just heard a success story from another mum, but it feels a bit snake oil to me? Bit then maybe people think that about sensory integration, and that was fab.

[abc12345]

I know what you mean, i'm suspicious that I just really really want it to work!!

It sounds as though the distance program is exactly the same as going to see a practitioner. You have one appointment for an audiogram and then they taylor a program just for you and you can stream it over the Internet. You have to do it twice a day for 10 days

Has anyone done this?

[tartanterror]

Sensory Integration has a really poor evidence base - despite having had loads of studies done.

We opted for the listening programme in place of the Sensory Integration (we did a bit of that DIY with swings and trampolines at home) as it seemed much better value for money. I thought Tomatis (and the like) must be a load of old hokum for years, and then I learned about brain plasticity and it seemed less far fetched. Listening stuff made more sense after seeing this TED Talk

[Hello1290]

We did it several years ago with a practitioner in London. I did notice a difference in DD's attention but the changes didn't seem to be permanent as such so we did Theraputic Listening a few years later. We were able to get a trial for this from our local OT services.
Again we had similar results as with Berard AIT but not permanent as such.

I'm certain we needed to use specific types of headphones for the treatment to work. I'm not sure the sound frequencies would be sufficient if streamed over the internet.

[abc12345]

If anyone is interested.... I did go ahead with the distance program of berard AIT. Twice a day for 10 days.

There does seem to be some improvements- his speech therapy is going so much better, he seems more alert and taking a lot more in, he seems less anxious about noise (e.g. Hand driers)... apparently it takes a few months for all the benefits to come through so I'm really excited about what's to come!

[sunseek]

So pleased to hear that you could see improvements. I have been in contact with The Sensory clinic today regarding the process of starting the distance AIT. I spent the whole day trying to look for real feedback and found this thread. I am glad to hear that there are definite changes.

My son has been diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder at Great Ormond Street hospital a few months ago. He's hearing test is normal but the way he process sound is distorted. So he would hear "thinger" instead of "finger". Below is a list of things that children with APD would struggle with. Sometimes children are mis-diagnosed with Autism/Dyslexsia/ADHD so it's important for parents to know the signs:
A child diagnosed with an APD may have difficulties in school as a result of the Disorder.
Academic weaknesses that might surface include:
Difficulties with reading
Difficulties with reading comprehension
Difficulties understanding verbal math problems (though the child may be very good at math calculations)
Spelling problems
Writing problems (written expression, grammar & word endings, and handwriting may be poor)
Problems with phonics, speech sound discrimination, sound blending, word attack
Vocabulary, syntax, and semantic skills may be weak
May be confused in trying to decipher new information and instruction
Problems understanding rapid speech
Trouble remembering verbal directions and class lessons
Trouble filing in missing auditory information
Trouble taking notes
Problems listening in the presence of background noise, as in a noisy classroom (noisy HVAC, fluorescent lights, pets in the classroom, computer and equipment noise, noise travelling through open windows and doors)
Difficulty completing classroom assignments and tests
Decreased class participation due to difficulty responding to questions or comments without lag time
Inability to communicate properly with peers, possibly leading to social isolation

I would love to hear if you saw any more changes since your last update? I am hoping the AIT could help with a few of the above issues that my son struggles with daily.

[tartanterror]

No more on AIT, but iLS had permanent results for my son. His balance is better. His handwriting has improved. Notably during the programme he began to remember people's names for the first time and he has built on these skills. The iLS uses bone conduction headphones which I think make a big difference - based on my experience of the power of bone conduction from a Science Museum Wonderlab exhibit!

[sunseek]

Sorry for sounding daft but what is iLS?

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

integratedlistening.com/

I haven't used so have no experience of this. Have ordered the AIT from Sensory Clinic.

[abc12345]

Hi, yes we are a few months on and the changes are significant now. His speech and language therapy is going so amazingly well (after years of v v slow progress). He is much more switch on, Concentrates better, actually learning at school now and he not scared of hand driers etc anymore!
I would definitely go for it. The at home program worked really well for us because we could do it before and after school.

I should say we have also been doing retained reflex therapy with Bob Allen and that has had quite dramatic positive results too.

[sunseek]

Sounds fantastic and very happy to hear. I have made an appointment in London to have the audiogramme done next week Thu. After that, we will go ahead and order the distance AIT. We are also doing Retained Reflex Therapy and I have seen some improvements. I am also following a Facebook group that's trying out ForBrain which is a bone conducting headset. The science behind it is that the sound of the child's voice conducts through the bone to the cochlear area of the brain 10 x faster than through air conduction. So the child is more aware of his voice and it helps calm the brain and helps it to re-wire. They need to use it every day for a few minutes. To be honest, I have not done loads of research on it but it sounds interesting.

[abc12345]

Good for you. I hope it works!! Please report back.

I saw some change straight after but more over the weeks and months following... now he's a different boy. Good luck

I'm off to google forbrain!

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

Have received the AIT due to start tomorrow. I will be back with updates.

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

So far biggest problem getting him to do it. The fidget spinner really helps to pass the timez

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

For those of you who are interested this is the information that led me to think AIT was worth trying clinical trials

[abc12345]

Good luck. Lego helps too!

[abc12345]

We saw giselle flower on Harley street.

[abc12345]

(She was recommended by these guys
auditoryintegrationtraining.co.uk/auditory-integration-training-ait-for-hearing-autism-adhd-add-dyslexia-and-other-special-needs-2/in-clinic-and-distance-auditory-integration-training-available-2/

Before we did the distance program)

[tartanterror]

Hi - how much is the AIT distance programme please?

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

£349 from the Sensory clinic

[tartanterror]

Thanks.