In our last blog post we learned about the astronaut training protocol. One of the key components of this treatment is therapeutic listening. So let’s take a closer look into the purpose and benefits of therapeutic listening!
What is it?
- Therapeutic listening is a sound-based intervention that provides the child with specific sensory information through music, which has been electronically modified to highlight areas of the sound spectrum that activate body movement.
- The music used include rhythmical sound patterns that help to trigger the self-organizing capacities of the child’s nervous system.
What is the protocol?
- The typical protocol for therapeutic listening includes two listening sessions for 30 minutes each day.
- The child will listen to the therapist recommended musical selection for two weeks, after which the therapist will progress to the next recording.
- The music selections will be specific to the child’s needs and goals for intervention.
- This protocol can last from 8 weeks to several months depending on the child’s needs and response to the program.
What will the therapist look for?
- During therapeutic listening sessions, the therapist will look at how the child engages with their environment with their whole body.
- Positive observations during therapeutic listening sessions may include increased attention, sensory levels, mood, posture, and movement.
What are the benefits?
- Therapeutic listening can benefit children with a wide variety of difficulties including:
- Poor attention
- Difficulty with social participation
- Challenges with transitions
- Difficulty recognizing and responding to internal body signals (i.e. hunger, thirst, sleep, toileting)
- Body safety and awareness
- Motor planning
- Mood and emotional regulation
- Auditory processing (i.e. difficulty responding to verbal directions)
- Sensory processing
Therapeutic listening is not a stand alone treatment. It needs to be utilized by a trained occupational therapist in conjunction with sensory-based activities.
If you feel your child could benefit from therapeutic listening, Building Blocks Occupational Therapy is here to help!
Resources
Therapeutic listening. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/pediatrics/departments/therapeutic-listening
Therapeutic listening for parents. Vital Links. (2021, January 14). https://vitallinks.com/parent-center/therapeutic-listening-for-parents/
Therapeutic listening. Vital Links. (2018, July 25). https://vitallinks.com/therapeutic-listening/
