Therapeutic Listening

My children have always had a hard time with transitions. They get nervous when separating from me. Six months ago, our Occupational Therapist suggested therapeutic listening as a tool to help with transitions and separation anxiety. At first, I was very skeptical. How was listening to music going to ease the anxiety of transitions? Now, after six months of using Kidz Jamz, I am a huge believer. It really does help my children.

 

What is therapeutic listening?

Therapeutic listening was developed by an occupational therapist. It uses pitch (high, low, and mid-range sounds), rhythm, various instruments, and melody to help stimulate children. The music varies from nursery rhymes, children’s songs, classical music, and nature sounds.

 

Who can it help?

·         A child who has trouble hearing, remembering, or listening

·        A child who has trouble focusing

·        A child who has trouble academically with reading, phonemic awareness, writing, and spelling

·        A child who struggles with organization

·        A child who is impulsive

·        A child who struggles socially

·        A child who struggles with speech

·        A child who struggles with anxiety

·        A child who is hypersensitive

·        A child who has trouble sleeping

 

How to do it:

Using a cd player and high range headphones, a child listens to the music twice a day for thirty minutes each time. There must be at least three hours between listening times.

 

Types of programs:

·        Ease 1 and 2- used for hypersensitivity

·        Kidz Jamz- used for sensory modulation and focus

·        Mozart for Modulation- used for body movement, attention, and language

·        Vivaldi for Modulation- used for focus, feeding, and hearing

 

Therapeutic Listening equipment:

We bought our therapy equipment through a company called Vital Sounds which is connected to Vital Links. They sell the headphones, music players, and cd’s. You need to get the headphones and cd player from them for your child to be able to do this program. Their equipment is medical equipment that allows your child to hear the different pitches. If you use a regular set, your child would only hear half of what they need to be hearing and the program will not work.

 

Results:

Children who have done therapeutic listening have improved in communication, feeding, socialization, tolerance to touch, academic skills, focus, sleep, and movement. I have personally witness lower levels of anxiety in my children as well.

 

If you are interested in starting this program with your child, talk to your therapist about Therapeutic listening. This program should be monitored by your therapist.