BÉRARD AUDITORY INTEGRATION TRAINING
New perspectives from the international scene provide insight
into functional outcomes
Terrie Silverman, M.S.
T. Silverman Training & Consultation
Sally Brockett, M.S.
Director, IDEA Training Center
• Seeking the Root Cause
• Hearing, Listening, Processing
• Problems Affecting Hearing
• Problems Affecting Listening
• Addressing the Problems
• Results from Around the World
• Resources
Agenda
Does This Sound Familiar?
• Covers ears/fingers in ears
•Hears sounds before others
•Resists brushing teeth, hair cuts
•Has delays in language development
•Poor phonics and reading comprehension
•Easily distracted by background noise
•Can not follow verbal directions
•Has a short attention span
•Poor handwriting, spelling
Hierarchy of Development Cognitive Skills Writing Imagination
Spelling Visualization Reading Self-Esteem Arithmetic Capacity for abstract
thought and reasoningPerceptual Skills Organization Speech & Language
Attention Concentration Visual Perception Auditory Perception
Fine Motor Speech & Language Coordination Eye-Hand Coordination
Controlled Oculomotor
Gross Motor Bilateral Integration Visual-Motor Integration Coordination Balance Lateralization
Motor Planning Body Percept
Innate Reflexes Tactile Comfort Eye Movements Sucking Gravitational Security Muscle Tone Oral Motor
Basic Sensory Auditory Visual Channels Tactile Kinesthetic Vestibular Proprioceptive
Physiological Nutrient Deficiencies Inflammation Reactions Immune System Allergies
Malfunction Structure Chemical Sensitivities
I know he hears, so why doesn’t he answer?
Hearing is an unconscious transmission of sound to the brain
Listening is active focusing or tuning into sound
Processing is the ability to interpret or attach meaning to the auditory stimulus
Poor Transmission of Sounds
Ear wax – may block transmission in the outer ear canal
Ear infection/fluid – may block transmission in the middle ear
Negative Eustachian tube pressure - decreases quality of sound transmission
Ear Check - Middle Ear Monitor
• Indicates the likelihood of middle ear fluid
• Assists parents in determining when to seek medical attention
• For home and school
Potential Causes of Problems
Medications
Exposure to excessive noise
Imbalances in biochemistry: toxins, deficiencies
Illnesses that affect the auditory system
Head trauma: falls, whiplash
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Right Ear Left Ear
Audio Test
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Before AIT
Right Ear Left Ear
Audio Tests (ADHD)
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After AITRight Ear Left Ear
Audio Tests (Autism)
Hearing Quality / Learning Ability Study
Maria Vega, Sp. Ed., Spain
Age - Years
Number of Students
Typical
Learning Difficulties
Predicted By Listening Test
6 – 11
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30
93.1 %
12 - 16 16 - 18
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36
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92.9 %
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94.7 %
Problems Affecting Listening
Hypersensitivity: hearing with more intensity. Causes distractibility, distortions
Uncoordinated Hearing: each ear hears differently. Causes confusion, misunderstanding
Delayed Response Time: Slow processing of signals. May miss parts of words, hears
bits and pieces.
Problems Affecting Listening
Selectivity: difficulty hearing pitch relationships, and understanding tone of voice/emotions. May not sing on tune.
Laterality: lack of dominant ear to process all frequencies. Causes delay in processing sounds, problems with sequencing,
spelling.
How Auditory Problems Affect Learning
• Sounds Cause Distractibility, Irritability, Stress
• Difficulty with Processing Reduces Attention Span
• Difficulty with Processing Reduces Memory
• Timing Delays Distort the Message
• Distortion of Speech Sounds Affects Phonics
Addressing the Problems
Berard Auditory Integration TrainingRequires listening to modulated music for 10 hrs. to stimulate reorganization of
auditory system
Neural Plasticity: allows the brain to reorganize when given novel stimulation with intensity and repetition. Creates new neural connections for a more efficient system
Bérard Protocol
• 30 minutes each session
• 2 times per day w/ at least 3 hours in between
• 3 years of age and older
• Headphones
• Limited Distractions
• Provided directly (on-site) by the Berard practitioner
Bérard Protocol
Berard AIT Equipment is evaluated and proven effective.
Currently two devices are accepted:
• Earducator
• Audiokinetron
Auditory Stimulation
Visual System Auditory System Vestibular System
Observed Benefits
Auditory Integration Visual Motor Integration Attention Modulation Visual Spatial Orientation Memory Motor Planning Sensory Integration Motor Coordination Affective behavior Oral-Motor Academic Learning
Berard
Results from Around the World
Berard protocol is easily replicable
Practitioners in 27 countries obtain similar results when following the protocol and using Berard AIT devices
Sensory Integration Checklist
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Median Change (%)
Months
79% Improvement
Sample Size = 14IDEA Training Center
Sensory Dysfunction (Decrease)
Short Sensory Profile (SSP) Change During 6 Months Post AIT
N = 54
Pre AIT Post AIT 1 Mo. 6 Mo.
Typical Performance < 10% > 30% > 40%
Probable Difference < 20% > 30% ~ 20%
Definite Difference > 70% > 30% > 30%
Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale
Percentile - Median
Months After AIT
Gain of 24 Percentile Points
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Percentile Scores Pre Post-AIT
Filtered Words 50 84
Figure Ground 37 75
Competing Words 84 84
Competing Sentences 50 63
Composite Total Score 55 86
Test for Auditory Processing Disorders for Children (SCAN-C)
SCAN-A: Test for Auditory Processing Disorders in Adolescents and Adults
Results for 38 Year Old Male
IDEA Training Center April 2006
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Filtered Words
Figure Ground
Competing Words
Competing Sentences
Total Test
Pre-AIT 6 Mos. Post AIT
PHELPS Kindergarten Readiness Scale Pre/Post AIT Results
5 year old boy
Percentile Rank Pre AIT Post AIT
Verbal Processing 25 75
Perceptual Processing 9 50
Auditory Processing < 1 91
Total Readiness Score 3 77
Test of Problem Solving
Before AIT After AIT
Explaining Inferences 4.4 5.1 9.7
Determining Causes 5.10 5.10 11.1
Negative Why Questions 6.5 6.11 8.10
Determining Solutions 5.11 6.5 9.10
Avoiding Problems 6.6 6.6 9.9
Chronological Age: 7 yr. 8 yr. 9 yr.
Age Equivalent Scores
COLORING - 5 Year Old
After 6 days of AIT
Before AIT
Handwriting - 7 year old
After 6 Days of AITBefore AIT
HandwritingBefore AIT
6 Months After AIT
Doaa El Hadary, M.D., Egypt
Autism Treatment Effectiveness Checklist (ATEC)
4 Year Old Boy
Areas Pre-AIT Post-AIT (1 yr.) % Change
Speech/Communication 26 10 62
Sociability 35 11 69
Sensory/Cognitive 29 18 38
Health/Physical/ 54 22 59 Behavior
Total Scores 144 61 58
Isamar Gonzalez, M.S. Audiologist: Puerto Rico
Aberrant Behavior Checklist
Areas Pre-AIT Post-AIT (2 mo.) % Change
Irritability 27 11 59
Lethargy 14 6 57
Stereotypy 8 1 87
Hyperactivity 30 17 43
Inappropriate Speech 3 2 63
5 Year Old Boy
Isamar Gonzalez, M.S., Audiologist: Puerto Rico
Autism Treatment Effectiveness Checklist (ATEC)
5 Year Old Boy
Areas Pre-AIT Post-AIT (2 mo) % Change
Speech/Communication 16 6 62
Sociability 14 15 -7
Sensory/Cognitive 7 4 43
Health/Physical/ 25 13 48 Behavior
Total Scores 62 38 39
Berard’s Method Center, Antalya, TurkeyLars Persson, Berard AIT Practitioner
Date of Study: 2005 – 2006
Number of Subjects: 52 Age Range: 8 – 18 yrs.
Functioning Level: normal, or with minor attention/ concentration difficulty, placement in regular
education program.
Data: Baseline rating form, repeated at 6 months post-AIT
Items % change 1. Evaluate your ability to maintain focus on a task of your choice 15
2. Evaluate your ability to maintain focus on a task choosen by your teacher 92
3. Evaluate your state of alert getting started on a task 61
4. Evaluate your motivation performing tasks/ solving problems 42
5. Evaluate your working memory 64
6. Evaluate your long term memory 37
7. Evaluate your stress level at tests/exams (reversed scale) 180
8. Evaluate your self confidence 51
9. Evaluate your determination, will power and endurance 71
10. Evaluate anxieties, fears, feelings of insecurity (reversed scale) 76
11. Evaluate your sleeping situation 81
12 Evaluate your distractability by back ground sounds when performing tasks (reversed scale) 108
Total improvement, mean value on 12 variables: 73%
Items % Change
Summary of 28 AIT Studies
Population
Positive
Ambiguous
Questionable
Visit berardaitwebsite.com/sait for details
Autism 13 2 1 ADHD 4 0 0
CAPD 2 0 1
Mixed Populations 2 0 1
Animals (chicks) 2 0 0
AIT for You – Terrie Silverman, M.S. Speech Pathology, Board of Directors for Berard AIT International Society, Member of Autism Society of America, Developmental Delay Resources.
www.aitforyou.com
IDEA Training Center – Sally Brockett, M.S. Berard AIT Instructor/Practitioner, Special Ed Consultant, Founder and President of Berard AIT International Society, Member of Autism Society of America, Developmental Delay Resources
www.IdeaTrainingCenter.com
Resources
Resources
• Dr. Guy Bérard• Hearing Equals Behavior
• Books by Annabel Stehli:• Sound of a Miracle• Dancing in the Rain• Sound of Falling Snow
ResourcesOfficial Berard AIT Website
www.berardaitwebsite.com
International List of Berard AIT Practitioners www.berardaitwebsite.com/PracList.htm
Berard AIT International Societywww.berardaitwebsite.com/BAITIS.htm
Dr. Guy Berard: www.drguyberard.com
Official Website for the Earducatorwww.earducator.com
Autism Research Institutewww.autism.com
Resources
hearinglosshelp.com/articles/ototoxicaudiology.htm
hearinglosshelp.com/articles/ototoxicupheaval.htm
Ototoxicity Information
EarCheck Middle Ear Monitor Information
www.earcheck.com
Berard AIT efficiently producespositive functional outcomes
Documented Results
Berard AIT Improves Quality of Life!