listening programs and interactive metronome

Greetings jw,

My now 14yo daughter completed IM last summer. This program is designed to improve focus, concentration, timing and rhythm. I was unaware that it addressed processing issues. As a result of about 17 sessions of IM, my daughter experienced a dramatic improvement in both her timing and rhythm issues. We also observed improvements with her focus and concentration but to a lesser extent. I also completed IM to ward off the effects of ‘forty-itis’ and it greatly increased my ability to focus and ignore distractions. As an unexpected bonus, this improved ability to focus also helped to keep me calmer in stressful situations.

Regarding processing issues, the PACE program has definitely increased my daughter’s ability to process information. It’s the only program that I’m aware of that improves processing speed.

I don’t have any experience with TLP.

Blessings, momo

TLP is a very mild version of sound therapy that often helps children with auditory issues.

IM helps rhythm, timing, coordination, and attention — all of which can impact processing skills.

Vision therapy addresses developmental vision problems.

Basically, TLP and IM address underlying issues that can affect processing. Audiblox (http://www.audiblox2000.com) and PACE (http://www.learninginfo.com) are cognitive training programs that directly address processing issues. The best gains from cognitive training are seen when underlying sensory problems involving the auditory, visual and motor systems have been addressed as much as possible — which is where TLP and IM have a role.

Mary

My son, who struggles with processing issues, completed IM about one year ago. After IM he stated that with timed math test, “I don’t think about it anymore. I just write the answer down.” He was, for the first time in his life, able to complete a math timed test before the time was up. This was a huge success in his life.

So, I have to think that IM helps with processing issues. Although in my son’s case, it didn’t totally resolve them. (Nor has it been proven with research that IM helps to improve processing issues.) It also might be helping because the child is better focused and, with less attention to distraction, able to complete the task faster. I think further studies need to be done on this.

I think IM teaches rhythm and with improved internal rhythm, the child can apply that rhythm to the environment around them. I also think that IM teaches the child or adult to use their unconscious mind more. I compare it to typing. When I first learned to type, every letter had to be processes and every finger position had to be processed consciously. Now, I use my unconscious mind which is far more efficient and I type in words rather than letters. IM teaches rhythm at the conscious level and then moves it to the unconscious level. So, before IM, my son consciously thought of every number and then thought of the calculation. Now he uses his unconscious mind and he is much more efficient.

Just to add to what Momo said, IM is being used by golfers who want to improve thier focus to improve their golf game, dancers, and even professionals who need that high level of focusing skills.

Donna

P.S. IM does not ever state that their program will improve reading or math skills. They state that with improve attention skills, these areas may improve. I just wanted to state that for those of you unfamiliar with IM.

We have done Tomatis and followed with The Listening Program. We saw more noticeable improvment with Tomatis vs. TLP -but it may be that it’s because we did Tomatis first and used TLP as booster after. (Tomatis does bone conduction and dominant ear work- that TLP does not do, and Tomatis is more customized for the individual child). TLP really focuses mainly on auditory tonal training. However, I know many NACD families are seeing noticeable improvement from TLP.

The sound therapy programs are not cures and you still need to do the other academic remediation on top of. Many people think their kids will automatically start reading after the therapy - you still have to do the reading program. What the sound does it makes the academic remediation easier and faster. This is the benefit we saw from it. It was like teaching and talking to a brick wall prior to the therapy. She is now thriving and LEARNING/Progressing. (again, though - sound therapy was not the only thing we have done - I feel it just provided the foundation for all the other programs).

Fastforword also does auditory tonal training - plus addresses other auditory processing issues. It does not do the full range of tones tho. I’ve observed on this board that many parents will offer the same descriptions of their kids(sound therapy vs. FFW) - they are more awake, alert, follow directions better etc.

NACD recommends for maximum benefit, you should to TLP first and then follow with FFW (for those clients that need both). It’s been their experience that the kids complete FFW quicker and with greater benefit- and some kids may not even need to do FFW after. Thats also been our experience - I’ve debated lots on doing FFW, but I’m not sure we’re going to see our bang for the buck.

We did FFW without any sound therapy. It took 16 weeks to get through it. In retrospect, we probably should have. But it seemed to have even less empirical support than FFW and I was impatient to get going and be able to do academics. We now are doing some sound therapy as part of Neuronet therapy. It is something called Lydterapi from Germany. It is only five minutes twice a day. Our therapist is trying to stimulate interhemispheric auditory processing. She is very pleased with the results.