The Auditory Sensory & Language Development Program is a Music-Based Auditory Stimulation method that is an affordable, effective approach for enabling individuals with a broad range of challenges and abilities to achieve even more.The Dakota Center utilizes this program with advanced "bone conduction" (see supporting data below) to help children with Developmental Delays. This includes children with ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder to only mention a few. This program is helpful to all children and adults as it has many benefits for the average person.
The Dakota Center is Trained and Certified in the Listening Program. This is a THERAPEUTIC technique and should not be done by anyone not certified to do so. Currently Tracy Terrell is the only certified provider of the ABT Listening Program with Bone Conduction in South Carolina.
This clinically-proven approach gently trains the auditory system to accurately process sound. When auditory perception is distorted—through illness, injury, development or other challenges—auditory processing problems can lead to academic, emotional, cognitive and social challenges, including problems with the following:
• Attention and concentration
• Listening
• Speech and language
• Memory
• Communication
• Social skills
• Motor Skills
• Balance
• Sensory Integration
• Coordination
• Body Awareness
• Energy
• Intuition
• Creativity
This program can make a significant difference. With the guidance of a Certified Provider, the program is an easy-to-use, portable method that can bring about lasting change.
How It Works
How can something that seems so simple—listening to psycho-acoustically modified classical music actually impact a wide range of abilities, such as reading, handwriting, communication, learning and memory?
Numerous studies worldwide, including research at the University of Sheffield, provide empirical evidence that substantiate the program’s efficacy. And while that affirms the program’s credibility, for many the question remains, how does program work?
The Ear-Brain Connection
First, let’s examine the connection between the ear and the brain. In oversimplified terms, the ear has three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. Sound travels as “vibratory energy” through these three parts as information relays to the brain. Sound travels through the auditory canal to the eardrum, vibrating through the middle ear bones. The inner ear converts the vibratory energy into electrochemical messages that are carried along the auditory pathways to the brain. Once there, the brain perceives and interprets the messages as sound.
Auditory Processing
Auditory Processing is the term used to describe what happens when the brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around us such as music and language. This process of perceiving sound is complex and requires a number of individual skills that need to work together in perfect harmony.
If the harmony is disrupted, there can be an adverse effect on the processing or interpretation of auditory information. An example is the ability to hear the difference between the sounds “ba” and “da.” Maybe it’s the effect of childhood ear infections, or the long-term impact of toxic noise. Whatever the cause, this disruption “disorganizes” the information, which diminishes the brain’s ability to understand sound. The result? Auditory processing problems can lead to academic, social and emotional challenges. Are auditory processing problems permanent?
Neuroscience is proving that brain function can change, thanks to “brain plasticity.” Research by leaders in this field indicates that plasticity refers to our brain’s natural ability to adapt and change itself. In other words, with specific stimulation through our senses (hearing, vision, touch, smell, taste), the brain can establish new neural pathways. However, the brain does not typically respond with significant, permanent change through casual exposure to sensory information. In order to “mold” the brain, it must be presented with specific sensory stimulation frequently, with intensity, and for a sufficient period of time. A definitive effort must be made to convince the brain that the intention is to create a change. This plasticity stays with us our entire lives. While it is never too late, the younger we begin stimulating the brain, the better.
For More Information or to Get Started with this program, please contact the Certified Providers at The Dakota Center. This program is offered through distance consultation as a home program or in our office @ 4011 Belle Terre Blvd, Suite B, Myrtle Beach, SC. 29579. Please contact us @ 843-236-8369 or email us @ thedakotacenter@msn.com
Have you ever listened to a recording of your own voice?
If so, you likely recall that it did not sound like you. In fact, you probably did not like the way you sounded. When you hear someone else speak you are hearing the voice being carried to your ears through the air; that is, through air conduction. That’s also what is picked up in a recording. However when you speak, your voice makes your whole body resonate, especially the bones of your skull and spine. When you listen to your own voice as you speak, you also pick up those vibrations, through bone conduction. Neither you, nor the recording picks up on these vibrations. You hear others though air conduction, but you hear yourself primarily through bone conduction.
This comes as a surprise to most people. Bone is a living organism in which sound travels faster than through air. Perception through bone is quite clear. It is possible to hear music from The Auditory Program quite clearly through the bones alone; however you will perceive it with less intensity than hearing it through air.
Both the cochlea and the vestibular system respond to bone conducted sound. The vestibule is most sensitive, especially to lower frequency sounds found in the body. The saccule is very sensitive below 800 Hz. In the 1970s Dr. Tomatis added the use of a vibrator to his method. This allowed delivery of music to the inner ears through the skin and bones via bone conduction, and headphones via air conduction. This addition improved his results dramatically, and provided grounding for the listener, especially when training the higher frequency sounds.
In 2005 ABT used the bone conduction system and the results were so profound that it was quickly moved toward developing a portable, home system which was first made available in 2007. This has become a standard in the delivery of music and provides faster results and better outcomes for all listeners. The most profound changed can be seen especially when working with people with a history of middle ear issues, hypersensitive hearing, autism spectrum disorders, and so on.
Occupational Therapist named Sheila Allen did a comprehensive literature review on bone conduction and identified scientifically accepted means by which vibration is conducted to the inner ear in addition to the established route of air conduction.
· Compressional bone conduction ‐ skull vibration compresses and expands the cochlea, which leads to basilar membrane vibration.
· Inertial bone conduction‐ skull vibration creates inertia of the ossicular chain which goes on the effect the inner ear.
· Osseotmypanic bone conduction ‐ skull vibration is transmitted to the external auditory canal, surrounding soft tissue and other structures to elicit tympanic membrane vibration.
· Skull vibration penetrates the skull and establishes audio‐frequency pressures in cerebrospinal fluid which creates changes to inner ear fluid. Vibration of skull tissue is also affected and stimulation of the skin, or vibrotactile input, transmits sound to the inner ear. Bone conduction is a naturally occurring event in the human body.
Bone conduction is a naturally occurring event in the human body.
It is important to highlight some of the unique attributes of bone conduction.
· One, it is the dominant means of intrauterine listening. By 16 to 20 weeks following conception the fetus is listening and responding to the mother’s voice, and sounds outside of the womb. Bone conduction is how we first experience the outside world.
· Bone conduction happens in response to external as well as internal vibration.
· Bone conduction primarily transmits sound to the inner ear. Therefore it is very helpful to use the ABT Bone Conduction System for listeners with a history of or current middle ear infection.
· The vestibular system is more sensitive to bone conduction than the cochlea is, so bone conduction provides a more effective means of stimulating the vestibular systems than with air conduction alone.
· Sound travels faster through the bone conduction route than through air conduction. This is the reason why we can make corrections to our speech mid‐utterance, because we hear our own voice through bone conduction before we do through air.
· The brain can perceive a range of frequency transmission through the bone from 10 to 100,000 Hertz.
· Both cochlea can be stimulated by a single bone conductor. The receptors in the saccule and utricle in the vestibular system can be activated by bone conduction vibration. The saccule is most sensitive from 100 to 800 Hz, with the best frequency response from 200‐400 Hz. This means that training with the Sensory Integration albums is optimized when using the bone conduction system.
There is much more to bone conduction, but this highlights some of the most important attributes.
The Auditory Sensory & Language Development Program is a Music-Based Auditory Stimulation method that is an affordable, effective approach for enabling individuals with a broad range of challenges and abilities to achieve even more.The Dakota Center utilizes this program with advanced "bone conduction" (see supporting data below) to help children with Developmental Delays. This includes children with ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder to only mention a few. This program is helpful to all children and adults as it has many benefits for the average person. 
Have you ever listened to a recording of your own voice? 
