The Brain Understanding Itself » bone conduction

Modified Classical Music on iPods Helps Toilet Train Liverpool Children

Alex Doman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:01:07 +0000

The Liverpool Echo published an article today about the results of a pilot study which examined the effects of modified classical music and a specific protocol to help children with autism and other cognitive and developmental challenges to be toilet trained. This is a world first project, conducted by June Rogers head of NHS Liverpool Community Health’s Integrated Paediatric Continence Service.

Children listened to 30 minutes of music a day through a special audio system which provided the music through both auditory pathways, air and bone conduction. The outcomes are positive and have been presented at European conferences. We now await approval for a large scale clinical trial to confirm these results in a larger sample size.

Continence problems severely impact quality of life, self esteem, and have large costs associated with supporting these children as they enter school. Our protocol holds promise to help children with toilet training problems, reduce costs of services to them, and help them live a happier more fulfilling life.

Note that the program name in the article is incorrect. What is referenced as the Listening Project is supposed to be The Listening Program® developed by Advanced Brain Technologies in Ogden, Utah.

Read the full article

UPDATE: Thank you to the staff at the Liverpool Echo for making the correction to the program name!

Filed under: auditory system, autism, brain and technology, brain research, music research, neuroscience, The Listening Program Tagged: Advanced Brain Technologies, auditory, autism, bone conduction, continence, fragile x, incontinence, june rogers, liverpool, music, music research, NHS, ogden utah, special needs, The Listening Program, toilet training

Music Program Helps Children with Down Syndrome

Alex Doman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:14:29 +0000

Hearing and speech are common challenges for children with Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21. Susceptible to chronic ear fluid and infections, auditory development is a crucial area of focus when taking a comprehensive approach to helping these children reach their innate potential.

If hearing is impacted, so is listening, auditory processing, receptive and expressive language, and cognitive function. One broken link in the chain creates a domino effect in terms of development of learning, behavior and communication.

Music listening therapy is a viable intervention for children with Down Syndrome. We have seen wide and varied success with The Listening Program® over the years, with the greatest success when the music is provided with a specialized audio system we developed called the ABT Bone Conduction Audio System™ that connects to an iPod or portable CD player and delivers the music simultaneously through air conduction and subtle vibrations through bone conduction. This integrated approach delivers a more reliable auditory signal to the brain helping to train it to discriminate sound and support other functions of the autonomic and central nervous systems.

A study was conducted by Gwyneth Jeyes and Caroline Newton in the UK in which a group of kids with Down Syndrome completed just half of the recommended minimum 50 hour protocol of The Listening Program® which is spread over the course of several months, with daily listening sessions of 15 or 30 minutes. These kids ages 5 to 12 yrs listened for just 25 hours and without the added bone conduction training. Even at this level of intervention all but one of the nine children showed improvements in listening, speech and language skills based on parent surveys. Other improvements were also seen in several of the children.

These results were presented in a Poster Session at the 1oth World Down Syndrome Congress in Dublin back in August. While the study is small, the outcomes are consistent with reports from Speech and Language Pathologists and other practitioners using The Listening Program® with their clients with this chromosomal anomaly. I am hopeful that we will see interest in see a larger, controlled study.

Read or download the poster.

Posted in auditory system, music research, The Listening Program Tagged: bone conduction, caroline newton, down syndrome, down syndrome treatments, gwyneth jeyes, music research, speech and language pathologist, The Listening Program, trisomy 21, world down syndrome congress

Study Demonstrates Effectiveness of The Listening Program® with Bone Conduction on Children with SPD

Alex Doman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:09:04 +0000

6 children who present with sensory processing disorder (SPD) and auditory processing concerns with ages ranging from 3 yrs 11 mo. to 8 yrs. 7 mo. 4 of whom were receiving therapy services participated in the study. Results from standardized testing demonstrated a significant improvement in all children who completed the program, compared to just therapy alone. This demonstrated that The Listening Program® with bone conduction is effective in helping increase functional skills and outcomes in children who present with sensory integration and auditory processing concerns along with skilled therapists to help achieve maximum potential and independence in everyday tasks/skills.

This study was originally presented by John Esteves at the 2008 Advanced Brain Technologies International Conference in Midway, Utah, July 2008. A summary is in the new book just published by Springer Vienna and New York, edited by Roland Haas and Vera Brandes Music That Works: Contributions of Biology, Neurophysiology, Psychology, Sociology, Medicine and Musicology ISBN 978-3-211-75120-6 http://www.springer.com/springerwiennewyork/medicine/book/978-3-211-75120-6

To read or download the full study please click here.

Posted in auditory processing disorder, music research, sensory processing disorder, The Listening Program Tagged: Advanced Brain Technologies, auditory processing, bone conduction, music that works, sensory integration, sensory processing disorder, spd, The Listening Program, Vera Brandes

Good Vibrations

Alex Doman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:01:17 +0000

Using Music to Enhance Sensory Processing

Ben had serious balance and mobility issues and delays in his language development. Having Neurofibromatosis (NF1), such developmental delay is often seen. In June 2007 he began The Listening Program® from Advanced Brain Technologies using the relatively new addition of bone conduction stimulation.

“Very quickly, Ben’s language skyrocketed. He began to speak in 4-7 key word sentences with much more accurate sound reproduction” Ben’s Mum, Helen

As the developer of The Listening Program® we at Advanced Brain Technologies are very happy for Ben and the wonderful gains he is making in his life. What an inspiration he is!

Read the full article written by Alan Heath that was published in SEN Magazine in the United Kingdom. http://tinyurl.com/6de6jh

Posted in The Listening Program Tagged: Advanced Brain Technologies, auditory processing, auditory stimulation, bone conduction, language delays, Neurofibromatosis, SEN, SEN Magazine, sensory processing, The Listening Program, the mozart effect