Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy
Additional Information About Programs for Occupational Therapy
Therapeutic Listening
Therapeutic Listening (TL) is "therapeutic use of an extensive library of electronically altered music on compact discs in combination with sensory integration treatment strategies." Therapeutic Listening uses filtered sound and sensory integrative techniques to improve body and space awareness, decrease sensory sensitivities, assist with modulation/ regulation, and countless amounts of positive effects in body organization and social skills, which are all dependent on efficient sensory modulation. In order to successfully interact with people and things in the world a person must be able to process touch, movement, taste, smell, vision, and hearing and respond appropriately. If any area of processing is over or under sensitive, they will demonstrate dysfunction.
History of Therapeutic Listening
The first "Listening" program began in France by Alfred Tomatis (a French ear, nose and throat doctor) in the mid-1900s. His method is based on filtered sound and the effects of high frequency sounds for varying lengths of time. Dr. Guy Berard, a French MD, trained with Dr. Tomatis and felt the original method was too lengthy. He developed Auditory Integration Training which predominantly uses filtered pop music in which the sound frequencies are electronically distorted/modulated at random intervals for random amounts of time. Since that time many sound therapies have been developed including Sonas, Samonas, Listening Fitness, The Listening Program and Therapeutic Listening. Therapeutic Listening is offered at Kids Can Do, Inc. It was developed by Sheila Frick, OTR/L and is a sound therapy program designed to work with sensory integrative therapy.
Therapeutic Listening Program
With a Therapeutic Listening Program a listener can expect to have changes in modulation (toilet training, sleep/wake cycles, awareness of self/surroundings, focus, and attention), postural tone, motor control, handwriting, spatial temporal organization, and communication. Therapeutic Listening offers extensive choices (depending on individuals needs at a certain time in the program) for modulated CDs in which the music has been filtered (high pass/low pass), which allows a contrast between foreground/background, near/far, and focus/monitory. An individual with a history of ear infections, sensory modulation disorders, sensory defensiveness, lack of social engagement, or difficulty grading responses to sensations would be appropriate for Therapeutic Listening. Therapists certified in TL complete an intensive training course and have experience in constructing a home program/sensory diet to meet your individual needs. Your therapist will design your program in which you will generally listen two times per day for twenty to thirty minutes while following a specialized sensory diet. A typical Therapeutic Listening program lasts approximately 12 weeks in length. In order for the program to be most effective, the child must be actively participating in a sensory diet before and during the program. Therapeutic Listening can be completed at home, school, or while traveling
How Does Your Engine Run?
How Does Your Engine Run, or The Alert Program (AP), is a specifically designed program for pre-school aged children and up that addresses self-regulation of arousal states. It uses the analogy of an automobile to introduce its concepts i.e. "If your body is like a car engine, sometime it runs on high, sometimes it runs on low, and sometime it runs just right". The program is implemented in three stages: identifying engine speeds, experimenting with methods to change engine speeds, and regulating engine speeds. Visual aids along with practical instruction are used to enhance the learning experience. Many benefits are seen from using this program including enhanced abilities to learn, improved interactions, improved self-esteem, improved self confidence, and improved self-monitoring skills. The AP can be done in individual or group treatment settings.
Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears is a Pre-K through Cursive handwriting protocol which uses a systemic multi-sensory approach to learning letter formation, fluency, speed, and spatial alignment. This step-by-step program was established by an occupational therapist and simplifies sometimes complicated approaches to learning letters. The HWT protocol is done both in individual therapy as well as in group therapy, and it has been found to be quite effective for all levels of function.
Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT)
The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, also known as the SIPT is a collection of 17 tests that are designed to test various aspects of sensory processing. The test is designed for use with children between the ages of 4 years through 8 years 11 months. The SIPT tests motor planning (praxis) components of the vestibular, proprioceptive, kinesthetic, tactile, and visual systems. It does not test olfactory (smell) taste, auditory, or language skills. The SIPT is intended to be primarily a tool to diagnose sensory integration dysfunction and is used in combination with other testing and clinical observations to develop appropriate treatment plans when indicated. The SIPT typically requires 3 hours to administer and is given in 2 sessions. Although the SIPT does not require the child to make verbal responses to the test items, it does require that the child be able to attend for a long period of time and to follow verbal instructions well. As a result, it may not be appropriate for use with all children with sensory integration and processing dysfunction.