Has anyone done the listening programme?

[loueytbg]

Its been recommended by our (private) OT for DS1 (ASD). He has quite a few sensory problems including auditory - he responds to every little sound and it is difficult to keep his attention on one thing because of this.

I am wondering whether anyone has used it and found it useful? Also - I'm not sure how we can build it in during his day. He is at a childminders and then nursery during the morning and then back at the childminders for the rest of the day for 4 days a week. She is extremely accommodating but there are other children there and I don't know how its going to work.

I should have said its the therapeutic listening programme - in case that makes a difference

Probably much easier to do it when they are younger. I put my daughters set in a shoulder bag that went over her shoulder. She then listened to it as she was colouring or writing, playing quietly on the floor or when she was having her breakfast. They just do it while they are taking part in other activities.

Must say it didn't help much though and we were asked to do it again a few years later but I said no.

We've done auditory integration training which was great (but expensive and requires 10 days in London).

However I have heard very good things about the listening program and think you should do it if you can't do auditory integration training.

daisy thanks for the tip about the bag. DS1 doesn't sit still so I'm not sure how easy its going to be to keep the headphones on him.

indigo what's the difference between auditory integration training and the listening programme? We are based in West London so could do something like that. Would be interested in more info on it if you don't mind.

AIT is specially designed for your kid.

They start off by doing an audiogram on your child. This shows exactly what frequencies are over or under sensitive. Then somehow they create music which mirrors this. Then you have to go into the sound learning centre twice a day for 10 days and listen to this music they have created for you.

Then that's it! You only have to do it for 10 days and then the treatment is finished.

At the beginning my boy's audiogram was all over the show - ie he had distorted and hypersensitive hearing. After 10 days his audiogram was almost perfect.

It costs about £1000.

What I don't know is how the listening program works (although I believe it does) because it's just playing generic music which hasn't been tailored to your child.

Maybe somebody else knows?

We are about to do the Auditory integration Training in London. Have heard very good things about AIT. Its done at the Sound Learning Centre in N13. It costs about 1k but some people can get funding from Caudwell for it.

DS who is 5 is non verbal and has on and off sound sensitivity issues that we are hoping will get better with this treatment.

DS 4.3 has done the therapeutic listening programme paralel to the SLT/OT/mum therapy at home and we have seen major shift (all positive) in terms of language, behaviour and sensory issues...

Its done twice a day for 15-30 mins with 3 hours between sessions. I started it off in the car when we went on a 30 mins journey. The music is quite pleasant and even relaxed me at night after a busy day.

I have DS pre booked at the sound learning centre too as since he benefited from the listening programme he has good chance he will benefit from the whole package.

DH still says he is convinced son improved because of all the effort I put at home on a daily basis as he doesnt really believe in listening therapy but still is available on the NHS (only if you ask for it, OT will not say they got it).

Where is West London are you?

I did TLP with Dd1 last summer - I do think her language picked up a bit & SLT reckoned her auditory discimination definately improved. ( was really poor before )

About to start again, on the OT's advice, in the hope it will help again

shark we're in Ruislip - so outskirts of London. Getting to see our NHS OT is nigh on impossible so even if they do offer it, it could be months before we get an appointment. (The OT we are going to at the moment is private).

indigo thanks for the info about the auditory integration training. It does sound interesting - I think though the time involved means that we wouldn't be able to do it until the Easter holidays. I can't see how we can take him in twice a day whilst he has nursery and other therapies going on.

staryeyed would be very interested to hear how you get on with it.

I think we will do the TLP first as we can do that sooner and then if necessary try and do the AIT. Its one of those things - you don't know whether it will help until you try.

louey - I live close to you! Do you want to meet at the Lido one Sunday?

is ruislip under hillingdon council or ealing?

DD2 is currently nearing the end of her 3rd lot of Therapeutic Listening. She used to have severe sensory problems, but the program has completely transformed her. We have many days now where she has no sensory problems at all. She first started it when she was 20 months.

We do 30 mins twice a day and have our cd changed every 2 weeks. Some cd's are better than others, but after this block, we'll have our own headphones and cd's and we're going to use it as part of her sensory diet, as maintenance. On the whole she does retain all her new skills, but her noise sensitivies creep back when not on the program.

The main thing we work on now with the Theraputic Listening is her balance and motor skills.

She is now 3.3yrs by the way. HTH

blueshark - Hillingdon. I have had fairly good OT support from them - including 4 sessions of Sensory Integration Training.

Louey - as far as I can tell the biggest diff between AIT and TLP (besides the price) is that AIT only takes 10 days, wheras TLP is done for a lot longer like MumGoingCrazy describes.

Hi Troublewithtalk!!

Yes, we generally do blocks of 12 weeks, but for one reason or another usually do longer, the longest was 18 weeks. I believe the minimum is 10 weeks for Therapeutic Listening.

Totally worth it though and it can easily fit in with anything because you have the cd on a belt so the child can carry on as normal.

Indigo - can't believe you are near me! I've sent my contact details through CAT so you should get my email address shortly. We have also been offered 4 sessions of sensory integration therapy by OT but I know we won't get any more once they are done.

mumgoingcrazy - I think ours does blocks of 8 weeks. Not sure why they are all different.

Can I ask how much the theraputic listening programme costs? Do you buy the cd,s or borrow/loan them? Does it have to be done through headphones or could it be put on in the car etc? Also how do you go about starting either projectg. Thanks

the listening programme is expensive, around £450 last time I googled.

You can loan it through the OT and the good thing is through the sensory profile questionnire they will develop the listening programme as there are different CDs for different sensory issues and level of sensory discomfort.

It must be done through a special headsets that are reducing the background noise, I think they are around £250 and in my thorough research the ones you get for the plane are nowhere near the quality you require for the listening programme.

Still the child should be able to hear you what you speak. I did it parallel with my 'own' devised SLT/OT activities.

We did TLP without any effect and have tried numerous things since. What we are doing now is the 'Snowdrop' programme. I read the book, 'Autism: A guide to Understanding and Helping Your Child.' by them and they talk a great deal about how to retune the mechanisms in the brain which are producing these sensory distortions. We had to convert a room to make a sensory environment for Gary, - he is so oversensitive in hearing and touch. We've only been doing it a couple of months but it is having an effect.

Listening is an important attribute of human development so take it seriously.
Without listening effectively, you cannot understand concepts or see between the lines effectively.

keypoints-dictionary.com/why-it-is-important-to-listen-key-points-on-the-go/

We've done three lots of TLP and all been beneficial, we used it for sensory and physically needs specifically core weakness. DS (10) loves and actively seeks it out.
It's not for everyone if you can get it for free then go for it And try it at worse it will do nothing.
I'm actually trying to find out where I can buy as DS likes to use some of the Cds every now and then to make himself feel better.