All of the sensory systems form part of the foundation for skill development and learning. The skill of listening is one area that has been neglected in traditional therapy until recently. Sound therapy is another form of sensory integration that uses vibration and frequencies to activate the auditory system. This system is so complex that it is related to movement (tapping your foot when listening to music), speech and language (singing automatically when listening to familiar music even in another language which you may not necessary understand), and emotion (feeling happy after listening to an up beat song).
A French ENT, Alfred Tomatis, originally developed listening techniques. He took classical music, Gregorian chants, and the mother's voice and progressively filtered out low frequencies for varying lengths of time. One of Tomatis' students, Dr. Guy Berard, felt that this method was too lengthy and so he developed Auditory Integration Training (AIT). This technique used filtered pop and rock, which was distorted/modulated at random intervals for random periods of time. Ingo Steinbach, a German sound engineer with extensive knowledge of music and physics became interested in Tomatis' work after he completed some experiments with his students using filtered music and increasing the frequencies. His program, called Samonas Sound Therapy, found varying effects which further stimulated his interest in sound therapy. He began using classical music with very specific instruments and recording them in 3-D space.
The objective of Samonas is to optimize the effect of listening using spatial hearing (acoustical orientation) and high tones to encourage listening up to 20,000Hz.
The average child hears up to 18,000Hz. By the age of 50 the average male hears only 10,000Hz.
Functionally, when used therapeutically, Samonas encourages the ear to actively listen to these intense frequencies. This activates the paths of auditory perception. Mental organization and deep psychological levels are stimulated. Additionally, it improves areas related to muscle tone, posture, balance, speech and language, and body awareness. Whilst using this at Children's Therapy works, we have also seen the benefits in improving appetites and digestive regularities, improved muscle tone, attentiveness, and listening skills as well as improved midline crossing.
The Samonas Sound Therapy program at CTW involves an intense 4-day program for the first two weeks. The program is individually designed for each child. The child is required to wear headphones; however, if this is stressful, certain CD's may be played over the appropriate sound system. Children can be progressively desensitized to wear the headphones in order to accommodate future CD's that are in the higher ranges from levels 1 to 4.
The Samonas Program must be administered by a trained therapist who has an understanding of the various levels and their effects.
Continuity is vital to the success of the program and should be done in conjunction with a motor therapy to obtain the optimal benefits.
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