Therapeutic Listening Case Studies
Therapeutic Listening: Comprehensive Results
Therapeutic Listening & Sensory Defensiveness
Therapeutic Listening & Autism
Therapeutic Listening & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Therapeutic Listening & Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Therapeutic Listening & Cerebral Palsy
Therapeutic Listening & Severe Hearing Impairment
Therapeutic Listening for the Gifted/Typical Child
Therapeutic Listening & Prenatal Substance Exposure
Therapeutic Listening for Adults
Therapeutic Listening: Gearshifters
Therapeutic Listening: Comprehensive Results
Sara
Sara was a 5-year-old girl who was adopted from Russia and spoke no English when she began school. Sara demonstrated many challenges including aversion to touch, disliking certain food textures and temperatures, attention difficulties, minimal eye contact, difficulties with transitions, and proneness toward tantrums. After Therapeutic Listening, Sara demonstrated many behavioral improvements as well as gains in handwriting and drawing skills, and in all areas of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT).
Allison
Allison was an 8-year-old girl who presented with various difficulties at school including in handwriting, construction/manipulation of materials, and poor bilateral coordination. After Therapeutic Listening, Allison’s teachers reported improvements in her written work and she began to participate in athletic activities with increased ease.
Therapeutic Listening & Sensory Defensiveness
Adam
While Adam’s development appeared typical early in life, at 13 months old he stopped verbally responding and sleeping. He also became terrified of people, had impaired registration of pain, did not like to be touched, and had an extremely restricted diet. Adam displayed signs of severe sensory defensiveness. However, after occupational therapy treatment utilizing Therapeutic Listening, Adam made great improvements in social engagement, speech and language development, sleeping behavior, play activities, and more.
Tony
Beginning at two years old, Tony became moody, more cautious, had minimal eye contact, and had sensitivity to sounds and clothes. He was also fearful of heights, disliked moving equipment at the park, and had delayed gross and fine motor abilities. After the very first session of Therapeutic Listening, Tony had a soccer game. Much to his parents’ surprise, Tony put on a brand new soccer uniform and played the entire game. Over subsequent sessions, Tony’s tantrums dissipated, and he demonstrated improved social interaction and motor skills.
Therapeutic Listening & Autism
Charles
Charles’ challenges with auditory processing and motor skills created much frustration for him and his mother. He was unable to hear his teachers, required closed-captioning while watching television, and was unable to hear or speak clearly to others. He also strongly preferred stationary activities. However, after Therapeutic Listening, Charles was able to more effectively communicate and make new connections at school. He also became interested in more athletic activities rather than drawing or watching television.
Ned
Ned was a non-verbal 25-year-old man who had multiple diagnoses including autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Ned was referred to occupational therapy for self-injurious behavior, sensory defensiveness, and communication impairments. His mother greatly hoped that Ned would develop some form of meaningful communication so that she would know when he was in pain or needed something. After Therapeutic Listening, Ned’s vocabulary “exploded.” He was now able to use meaningful yes/no communication and was speaking a new word almost every day. His mother, personal assistant, and therapist were amazed by the transformation.
Jill
Jill was a 6-year-old girl who was enrolled in a classroom for students with a diagnosis of autism. She was sensitive to loud noises and low frequency sounds. Jill also disliked wearing clothes and had particular food preferences. Additionally, Jill had limited communication and social engagement, difficulties with transitions, and a high activity level. After Jill’s occupational therapist implemented Therapeutic Listening in her treatment program, Jill made numerous improvements. Changes included improved eye contact, speaking her first words, trying new foods, and maintaining an optimal level of arousal.
Therapeutic Listening & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Lily
At 13 years old, Lily’s pediatrician was considering putting her on ADHD medications. However, her parents feared how such medications would combine with Lily’s current anti-seizure medication. Therefore, they searched for other ways to help Lily with her challenges at school. Lily struggled with paying attention, reading and comprehension, and hearing her teacher in a noisy classroom. After utilizing a home program that included Therapeutic Listening, school became easier and more enjoyable for Lily. She could hear and read better and was now able to focus at school and on homework without any adult supervision.
Therapeutic Listening & Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Kameko
Kameko was adopted from Kazakhstan, where she was living in a group home. Because the family was about to leave the United States to return home to the Philippines, the occupational therapist saw Kameko only two times and the majority of treatment was carried out in a detailed home program. Before Therapeutic Listening, Kameko was defensive to touch, was a restless sleeper, required assistance for toileting, was prone to tantrums, lacked safety awareness, and was highly distractible. In addition, she had limited social engagement and communication with her family and peers. However, after treatment, Kameko was a much happier child who was able to engage in physical interaction, use verbal and nonverbal communication effectively, slept more soundly, and was beginning to use a toilet. Kameko’s play skills also greatly improved. The family was finally able to do desired activities such as going out to lunch with friends.
Therapeutic Listening & Cerebral Palsy
Clinical Note: Many individuals with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy also have sensory integration issues that can impact their motor control. Therapeutic Listening can be helpful for this.
Abby
Abby was a seven-year-old girl who had a diagnosis of mild cerebral palsy and strabismus. While having cerebral palsy created a variety of motor challenges, Abby’s parents were also concerned about other issues. Abby had poor balance, lack of bladder control, was a restless sleeper, and was prone to tantrums. Performing daily activities such as eating, dressing, and picking up her room was difficult for many reasons. She was highly distractible, had difficulty finding objects among other objects, and had poor spatial awareness. Abby demonstrated many improvements after Therapeutic Listening. She made good progress in her motor skills, spatial awareness, postural control, self-confidence, and overall regulation. Abby’s mood improved as well as her bladder control. Even more, Abby became more willing and interested to engage in activities that involved running, jumping, and swimming.
Therapeutic Listening & Severe Hearing Impairment
Belle
Belle was a four-year-old who experienced frustrations with communication, which caused her to become aggressive at times. She was always “on the go” and quickly jumped from one activity to another. In addition, Belle had poor balance between flexion and extension and startled with backward movements (such as in the Lycra). After listening, Belle began attempts at language, became more organized, and demonstrated better attention with activities. Improvements were also observed in her postural control, trunk rotation, and visual orientation and awareness of the space around her. This allowed her to orient to other people in the room and master physical challenges.
Therapeutic Listening for the Gifted/Typical Child
Savannah
Savannah was a bright student who was also active in sports and drama. However, she frequently would “fall apart” after school and had difficulty with low energy and poor sleep patterns. She also displayed sensitivities to sounds, foods, and clothing. In addition, she showed challenges in posture and eye movements. After Therapeutic Listening, Savannah was sleeping much better and had less sensory defensiveness (to sounds, foods, and clothing). These improvements allowed her to participate in new activities such as sleepovers with friends, attending band camp, and wearing more “girly” clothes. Savannah’s mood also improved as well as her strength and endurance.
Therapeutic Listening & Prenatal Substance Exposure
Thomas
Thomas was a four-year-old boy whose mother was dependent on cocaine while she was pregnant. He showed signs of attachment disorder, sensitivity to light, sound, and touch, and preferred constant movement. He was also very particular about certain things such as how he played, whether his step-grandmother’s hair was in the perfect place, and whether his Cheerios were in perfect circles. After Therapeutic Listening, Thomas showed less need for movement (such as bouncing), became more flexible in play and with change, and had less sensitivity to noises and touch sensations.
Therapeutic Listening for Adults
Stefanie
Stefanie was a 40-year-old woman who maintained a job and was living independently. However, she had a history of difficulties that made her life more challenging. For example, she had 30% hearing loss, compromised gross motor skills, no sense of direction, and fleeting, unfocused attention. Due to her difficulties with auditory processing she had to make audio recordings for all work meetings and painstakingly transcribing word-for-word. However, Therapeutic Listening afforded Stefanie enhanced auditory processing, which made her life much easier and more fulfilling.
Therapeutic Listening: Gearshifters
Justin
Justin was a six-year-old boy who was diagnosed with autism. Justin was taking a break from his regular Therapeutic Listening program when he became aggressive at school—biting, pinching, and head-butting. His occupational therapist tried a Gearshifter from the Therapeutic Listening library and saw positive changes and recommended the CD be used at school. A few days later, Justin’s school therapist called to report that the CD worked so well that it was able to prevent outbursts when given at the start of an escalation.