Therapeutic Listening – Vital Links and How it Can Help Your Child

 

What is the therapeutic listening program-Vital links:

Therapeutic listening is an evidenced based, auditory intervention. This intervention incorporates developmental and sensory integration perspectives. This program uses electronic modifications coinciding with rhythmic sounds to work on attention, activate body movement, organizing the nervous system and more. This program contains many albums each working on something different. There is also no specific order that the albums need to be played so that the OT and client can work together to see what works best for them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: A certified professional must complete the course to be able to recommend and set up a schedule for this program. At the end of the course the professional is given a code that they may give to parents to order the program. These programs are obtained through vital links and vital sounds once the code is retrieved.

 

Protocol: 

The protocol varies depending on the child. The program can last anywhere from 6-8 weeks to months depending on the child. The child should be listening to the program 1-2 times a day for 15-30 minutes 7 days a week. The sound must be at 3/4ths volume and each listening period must be 3 hours apart. There should also be no screen time while listening to this program or any activities that can take the listener’s attention away from the music. The program is best used with overhead headphones with a sansa clip to clip onto headphones and listen while engaging in gross motor or fine motor activities. 

 

Who is Therapeutic listening for?

• Those who have communication difficulties
• Those who have trouble transitioning 
• Those who have a hard time with sleep, eating, bladder or bowel movements
• Those with poor praxis and motor planning (coming up with an idea, planning and completing the task)
• Those with irritability or mood difficulties
• Those with trouble following directions
• Those with poor attention
• Those with difficulties interacting with peers
• Those with difficulty responding to sounds/verbal directions
• Those with challenges navigating space
• Those with poor timing and sequencing of motor skills
• Those with postural insecurity (fear of heights, playing on playground)
• Those with a hard time regulating energy levels (too low arousal or hyperactive)
• Those with abnormal response to various stimuli (sound, taste, touch, pain)

 

In Therapeutic Listening Level 1, each album works on something different.

Engagement section: 

• This part works on sensory modulation and spatial awareness and each of these sections encompass albums noting more specific areas they work on. 
  • Sensory modulation section includes the following;
    • Links to modulation 
      • Works on basic modulation
    • Rhythm and Rhyme
    • Peach Jamz
      • Works on verbal and nonverbal communication
    • Razzberry Jamz
      • Works on regulation and sensory modulation
    • Early Mozart
      • Works on regulation and engagement
    • Mozart for Modulation
      • Works on regulation and biological rhythms 
  • Spatial awareness
    • Links to space 
      • Works on basic spatial awareness
    • Nature Pop
      • Works on space and core
    • Nature Winds
      • Works on higher level space and attention

Interaction Section:

• This part works on core/praxis and contains albums working on more specific areas.
  • Core/Praxis section includes the following
    • Rhythm and Rhyme
    • Peach Jamz
    • Razzberry Jamz
    •  Apricot Jamz
      • Works on timing and sequencing bilateral activation
    • Surf Jamz
      • Works on postural activation and levity
    • Baroque for Modulation
      • Works on breath and core activation, which is a bridge to attention
    • Grape Jamz
      • Works on anchoring to place with simple strong rhythm
    • Strawberry Jamz
      • Works on core, interaction, and connection
    • Vivaldi for Modulation
      • Works on transitions
    • Bach
      • Works on refinement of core

Discrimination section:

• This part works on attention and includes albums working on more specific areas.
  • Attention section includes the following:
    • Peach Jamz
    • Early Mozart for Modulation
    • Strawberry Jamz
    • Baroque for Modulation
    • Vivaldi for Modulation
    • More Mozart for Modulation
    • Mozart Strings Number 1
    • Bach for Modulation
      • Works on Refinement of communication and academics

 

Examples of activities to do while using the Therapeutic Listening program: 

• Fine motor:
  • Putting together puzzles
  • Building blocks
  • Drawing/painting

• Gross motor:
  • Balancing activities
  • Utilizing sensory swings
  • Walking

In conclusion, therapeutic listening – vital links program is an effective tool for a variety of interventions when instructed by a trained professional. To understand more about this training, it is recommended to ask a trained clinician or take a course.

 

Resources:

Therapeutic listening. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/pediatrics/departments/therapeutic-listening 

Therapeutic listening. Vital Links. (n.d.). https://vitallinks.com/therapeutic-listening/