I have received a few queries about ‘Therapeutic Listening’ and would like to summarise the following information:

What is it?

Therapeutic Listening is an individualised sound training programme that consists of equipment and materials that have been designed to produce specific effects on listening skills. Listening difficulties include an inability to accurately perceive, process, and respond to sounds and are often a part of other sensory, motor, attention and learning difficulties affecting a large number of children.

Can it help?

We cannot see listening, but you can get to it indirectly through skills that are related to it in one way or another. The benefits of ‘Therapeutic Listening’ as an intervention technique are varied. I personally believe that it is important to combine ‘Therapeutic Listening’ with other sensory integrative techniques and evidence-based speech and language approaches for definitive results.

Important things to consider when making the decision:

‘Therapeutic Listening’ is not a ‘one programme fits all’ intervention technique (there are different programmes: Lift, Therapeutic Listening, P.L.A.Y., Tomatis, etc.) and it is vital that your child is assessed by a qualified speech-language therapist or occupational therapist trained in the therapeutic listening programme.
The intervention programme should have a holistic approach focusing on various developmental areas (e.g. sensory, motor, speech, play, language, interaction and learning) and not just listening alone.
Treatment programmes should incorporate sensory and auditory integrative techniques with speech and language approaches.
Outcomes should be identified in advance and the child’s progress should be monitored regularly by the therapist.  

For more information on this topic see www.listeningtherapycentre.com or www.abilitiesinfo.com (click on Occupational Therapy Link)

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