This document provides information about Therapeutic Listening (TL), an auditory-based intervention that uses organized sound patterns in music. TL works on orientation, regulation, sensory modulation, space/time, core/praxis, and connection. It is based on the link between the auditory and vestibular systems. The document discusses how TL addresses listening skills, different types of TL music, expected changes after listening, contraindications, and addressing behavioral changes that may occur during treatment.

1.  Arohi Atre
 Occupational Therapist
 Certified TL® Provider

2. Understand “What and How” of Therapeutic
Listening
Know the protocol of TL to be followed
Basic understanding about choosing albums-
brief introduction to profiles
Orienting response- changes post listening
Case studies

3. • Listening requires attention and connects us with the
outer world
• The auditory and vestibular systems - inextricably linked
and facilitate integration of other sensory systems
• Therapeutic Listening/Listening with the Whole Body
works on 4 areas:
1. Orientation, regulation, and sensory modulation
2. Space/time
3. Core/praxis
4. Connection, engagement, and communication

4. • Listening includes:
 Orienting to sound
 Locating sound
 Selecting sound
 Attending to sound
 Discriminating and interpreting sound
Hearing
• Passive
• Involuntary
• Never shuts off
Listening
• Active
• Voluntary
• Requires attention
• Connects inner and outer worlds
• Precursor to interaction
• Affects perception
• A sensorimotor activity

5. URL:https://youtu.be/sR9y71GV5b4

6. • An expansion of Sensory Integration.
• An auditory intervention that uses the organized sound
patterns inherent in music to impact all levels of the
nervous system.
• Auditory information from Therapeutic Listening CDs
provides direct input to both the vestibular and the
auditory portions of the vestibular-cochlear continuum.
• Emphasis of TL is on blending sound intervention
strategies with vestibulo-proprioceptive, core
development, and breath activities so as to sustain
grounding and centering of the body and mind in space
and time.

7. • Critical to match music with client’s current needs
• TL program is not formulaic- no specific order or
prediction
• 4 programming series
• a. Modulated series
• b. Fine tuning series
• C. Spatial enhancement series
• D. Gearshifters series

8. • Helps address difficulties with basic foundations of
listening-tuning in and orienting to sounds and
discriminating them
• Uses a filter which highlights specific parts of the sound
spectrum that allows us to monitor the ambient sound
and naturally focus our attention
• Modulated music-triggers ORIENTING response

11. • An important neurological process that helps to
• detect novelty within the environment
• directs attention to potentially significant events
• mobilizes the resources to process the event
• With repeated presentation of the same stimulus,
orienting response will either extinguish or become less
intense

12. • Cessation of all ongoing motor activity
• Heart rate slows then speeds up
• Head turns
• Pupils dilate
• Breath changes to increase in depth

13.  Increased eye contact
 Increased fluidity of movement
 Increased confidence and comfort with movement
 Broader range of facial expression
 Increased vocalisation
 Improved vocal quality-tone, rate, prosody
 Improved motor planning
 Increased willingness to attempt new skills

14. • 30 minutes each listening session
• 2 X / day
• Minimum separation of 3 hours between listening times
• For use over headphones only
• Change music albums every two weeks

15. • Listening volume levels
• Normal conversation level
• Decibel reading of 45-55 dB
• Times of day to listen
• Until aware of impact of the music selection over time (~ 1 week),
listening in morning and afternoon to assess impact on behavior and
sleep schedule

16. • Contraindications
• Schizophrenia
• Auditory-evoked seizures
• Tic Disorders
• Activity Contraindications
• Watching TV
• Computer/Video games

17.  Some behavioral changes exhibited to deal with
internally occurring changes
 Can include:
◦ Strong emotional episodes such as tantrums
◦ Increase in repetitive behaviors
◦ Tears for the first time
 Absolutely normal to have disorganization in
typical development as long as positive gains
seen in other areas

18.  Provide extra opportunities to provide warmth and
affection
 Provide Structure and parallel talk
 Employ sensory diet strategies with suggestions
from your OT
 Reintroduce CD’s that have had a calming effect
in the past

19.  Apparatus to be used for Therapeutic Listening?
 Increased auditory sensitivity post listening – why?
 Standard progression of CDs for TL program?
 Changes to look for post-listening?

20. Questions ?????