Just started the listening program to help with dd's sensitive hearing/sensory needs

[Blossomhill]

Just thought I'd let you all know that I have started a 6 week program (given by OT although I have had to pay) to help with dd's sensitivity to noise and also helps general sensory needs.
Dd has to listen twice a day for 15 mins each time and has been such a star. She knows why she is doing it so I think that helps.
She is 8 with a dx of asd/AS (not quite sure which).
I'll let you all know how it goes x

Good luck!

Thanks ct, how are you? not spoken in ages xxx

iwearflares ~ I think that as the equipment you use is specialist it re-tunes there hearing patterns. i will dig out info or if you google there are some testimonies.
Really hoping it will work as even a baby crying can send dd into a state of panic!

I'm just about to go for an assessment for this for DS1 and DS2. Am hoping that it will help their noise sensitivity too (though DS1's is only mild) and also DS1's auditory processing. Not confident that DS2 will wear the headphones though!

I am also looking for some information on sensitive hearing for a child with Autism who currently wears ear defenders in his class to help him cope with the noise. I would love to know about this programme.

I bought LP years ago but have never managed to put it into practice formally!! It was a lot cheaper then I think.... You can buy it direct, and it used to come with some consultant advice, from www.advancedbrain.com and there is all sorts of other exciting stuff there! If I remember, it is based on Tomatis and the music is reprocessed to stimulate each ear or both.... someone else could prob give a better description!

Thanks Davros

Can I ask why you did not put it into practice - what are the pitfalls?

We tried it but ds1 wouldn't wear the headphones. I may try again sometime.

Does anyone have more info on having hypersensitive hearing ??

Can it occur on it's own or is it normally only with other apparent with other special needs ?

I only ask because I have often thought it odd how upset ds can get when he hears something loud, ie shouting, tv too loud, vacuum, electric whisk etc etc, he can get quite upset and cry and hold his ears when alot of the time the noise doesn't seem to be loud to me.

I had never realised that hearing can be hypersensitive.

it's not always loudness- can be pitch. So for example there are times when ds1 cannot tolerate the microwave and will scream if it goes on- he can hear it from 2 rooms away. There was also a period of a few months where he would go ballistic if a small plane/microlight flew above. Would hit himself and hold his ears, screaming but was abolsutely fine if a jet plane or helicopter roared overhead.

It can just happen without other special needs. Stella Waterhouse has written a detailed books about it- called a pisitive approach to autism, but it's about sensory issues rarther than autism itself (or at least how they can lead to autism/dyspraxia etc).

Thanks gess, can't say I have noticed ds reacting to high pitched things, just noisey stuff.

He quite often says that noise hurts his ears, but as I say I didn't even realise that some people can have hypersenitive hearing.

Will look into it a bit more I think.

Thanks

In ASD it seems common to be unable to "filter" things out like the rest of us do all the time without noticing. DS is like Gess's DS, some very loud noises don't bother him at all and other noises, sometimes loud and sometimes not, upset him. And, of course, its constantly changing!!

weird how it changes isn't it! The small planes one was a nightmare, was not sad to see the back of that!

Ha! Where would we be without constant changes?
We had the same problem with headphones which is why I didn't put it into practice properly but that has been resolved at school and he will now even wear earphone thingies with his Ipod!!! The other reason I never got serious about it was DD coming along .... my excuse for everything.

I am anticipating that DS2 won't wear the headphones - he won't even wear a hat! But think it'll be worth buying for DS1, and then if I can gradually wean DS2 onto it, so much the better...

We had headphone issues for years but they decided to deal with it at school (ABA of course!). DS got to choose and listen to his favourite music on headphones, r+ for small time, building up to when he would wear them willingly. Then had to work on him listening to music he doesn't like before getting music he does like (rather obsessive!). We got him an Ipod Shuffle last Xmas as we were all sick of listening to the same music over and over and over in the car. So, instead of eliminating or reducing the behaviour we just gave up! I had to buy cheap gym headphones or get DH to steal them from trains/planes but they kept breaking so he HAD to use the earphones and now does with NO problem!!! Maybe best to start with some really, really preferred music before attempting Listening Prog with him and even just play it, then move to headphones for short times, r+ and increase time. I was told by LP consultant that we could just play the discs to start and not use headphones, then build up to it.....

That is a brilliant idea! Although we're doing an ABA programme, I never think of using it for things like this. DS2 is very keen on certain Cbeebies theme tunes atm, so can see it working. Thanks!

Hello, my YS aged 4.10 had an assessment during the summer holidays for ASD. I will be attending the diagnostic/planning meeting on the 17/10 for the recommendation of Asperger Syndrome, the psychologist will also be recommending that my YS gets referred to the Occupational Therapist for Sensory Integration Dysfunction ( SID ) or Sensory Processing Disorder which is often closely linked to AS, I am also wanting Hyperlexia noted as it was his SALT that made a suggestion that she felt my son was Hyperlexic.

For further info on SID, I fully recommend:

" The Out Of Synch Child " by Carol Kranowitz

" The Out of Synch Child Has Fun " by Carol Kranowitz

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_Integration_Dysfunction

Kind regards Louise

Davros, would you like to sell me your LP or a copy of the CDs?

Am keen to try this out for my dd but cannot afford £300!

Blossom - a this thread has been bumped I thought i'd take the opportunity to ask whether you think the Listening Prog has had a positive effect on DD? We haven't got round to doing it yet, for various reasons, so I'd be very keen to know if it's worthwhile.

and i'll take the chance to sneak a question - does this program help auditory processing as well, or just hypersensitivity?

Yes it does help auditory processing.

I looked into doing it again, but it's very expensive - a local charlaton 'SN neuro praticitioner' was charging about 500 quid for the CD's and some consultation, but when I contacted her she knew bugger all about severe autism and the "consultancy" seemed to consist of me filling in a checklist form.

I have managed to hire the program previously (when ds1 wouldn't wear the headphones) from someone who did know what she was talking about, but I'd like my own copy really as I think it will be hard for ds1 to accept the headphones still. .

A friend and I are thinking of clubbing together to buy the CD's then share them. If anyone finds a cheap(er) supplier that doesn't force you to have useless consultancy as well then please let me know.

Oh I think Donna Williams has written about the auditory processing as has Lucy Blackman in Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone.

I was told recently that Auditory integration training (AIT) may help DS with her listening and attention problems (auditory processing).
This is the website: www.berardaitwebsite.com/index.htm

But with this system I would need to go with DS to a centre (I am trying currently putting headphones on him to get him used to them). I would much rather hire a similar program. Yurt, do you mind telling me where go hired it from?

(DS has a developemental delay in all areas, he is 3.2 years old)