If you have a child with autism or any other type of sensory processing disorder, your therapist may suggest therapeutic listening as a beneficial addition to their treatment. Therapeutic listening utilizes sound to improve a child’s movement, language, and learning difficulties. The sensory processing specialists at All For Kids Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Anchorage, AK, are here to discuss everything you need to know about this type of treatment.

An Introduction to Therapeutic Listening 

How Does It Work?

Therapeutic listening uses a special type of music or organized sound patterns to give the listener controlled sensory information. The music is electronically modified to target specific parts of the sound spectrum and impact the nervous system for a desired result, such as sensory modulation, calming, or focus and attention. This therapy can be used independently or as a complement to other therapies for sensory processing.

Who Benefits From It? 

If your child has a poor attention span, is unable to follow directions, or has difficulty with both verbal and non-verbal communication, therapeutic listening may help. Children with poor motor, spatial, and timing skills can also reap the benefits of this treatment.

What Are the Advantages of This Approach?

Some of the main advantages of this therapy include increased body and environmental awareness and expressive and receptive language. It can also help to improve sleep patterns and calm children with anxious or impulsive behaviors. Some treatments involve a child performing different exercises while listening to music to promote balance, hand-eye coordination, and brain-body integration.

Sensory processing disorders can impact a child’s behavior, language, attention, and social skills, which is why it may be time to consider therapeutic listening. For local therapists trained in implementation of this modality, turn to the team at All For Kids Pediatric Therapy Clinic. Call (907) 345-0050 to schedule a consultation with a therapist or visit their website for more information and a full list of services.