| Auditory Integration Training (AIT) |
| Auditory Integration Training was first developed by a French Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, Dr. Guy Berard. He found that some children seem to have hypersensitivity to certain frequencies of sound. Dr. Berard designed AIT as a way to help children regulate their hearing, basically teaching their brains to process the hearing in such a way that it is no longer negatively affecting the child's learning. Dr. Berard has used the AIT method in treatment of Autism, ADD, Dyslexia, Hyperactivity, Learning Disabilities and Language Disorders. He has also treated children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Depression. A child, for example, might have perfectly normal hearing at every level except for hypsersensitivity to frequencies at 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz. Upon hearing sounds at 1,000 and 8,000 Hertz, the child becomes fussy, irritable, agitated and disoriented, being unable to concentrate on learning. Some children also hear differently in one ear than they do the other, resulting in asymmetrical hearing. This creates problems with discrimination in hearing different sounds, once more hindering the learning process. AIT was designed to normalize the entire hearing process, both the hearing of sound and the way the brain processes the sound that is heard. This is done by introducing sounds to the child with music, through a series of twenty 30 minute sessions, preferrably two sessions per day for ten days, with a 3 hour break between the two daily sessions. An assessment of the child's hearing is done before the first session, to determine the child's hearing levels and to decide if AIT might be of benefit to the child. Another assessment is done at the midway point to note any changes in hearing that have occurred, with a final assessment being conducted at the end of the Auditory Integration Training. While AIT does not work for every child, many parents see a definate improvement in their child's overall behavior after taking part in AIT. Improvements in overall social skills, in eye contact, in age appropriate behaviors have been reported. Receptive and expressive language skills have also been known to improve with AIT. At this time, Auditory Integration Training is available in all states, but may be limited to larger cities, as it has only been offered in this counry in the past ten to fifteen years. |
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| Links to Websites and Information on Auditory Integration Training |