For children with sensory disorders, such as sensory processing disorder or auditory processing disorder, participating in daily activities and interacting with peers can be challenging because they are unable to appropriately understand and respond to sensory cues. In children with auditory processing disorder, for example, the ability to follow instructions or carry on a conversation is impaired due to the inability to properly interpret sounds. Use of headphones and other listening devices, as well as participating in a therapeutic listening program, may be recommended to address auditory processing disorder.
Individualizing Treatment
According to KidsHealth, 5 percent of school-aged children are affected by an auditory processing disorder. Because there are several different types of auditory processing disorders, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association stresses the importance of proper diagnosis, which allows for an individualized approach to symptom management. Treatment plans may include therapeutic listening programs and use of auditory trainers, which the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders defines as headphones or other electronic listening devices that help children more easily tune out background noise and focus on who is speaking.
Therapeutic Listening Programs
The goal of a therapeutic listening program is to provide children with the ability to more easily understand spoken language. According to Shawnee Mission Medical Center, children participating in a therapeutic listening program use headphones to listen to music for two 20- to 30-minute periods each day while performing certain activities. The music has been modified to contain only the high and low frequencies, which aids children’s focus and ability to process background sounds.
Integrated Listening Therapy
Shawnee Mission Medical Center also lists use of an integrated listening system as a method for managing problems associated with processing disorders, including low self-esteem and difficulty with concentrating and auditory processing. Similar to therapeutic listening, integrated listening therapy involves use of a bone conductor, headphones and an iPod to play modified music. Children should listen to the music for three to five hours each week.
Auditory Trainers
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, auditory trainers can be useful in classrooms to help children with auditory processing disorders focus on their teachers while ignoring other sounds that might serve as a distraction. When use of an auditory trainer is indicated, your child’s teacher will wear a microphone and your child will wear a specialized headset to aid in auditory processing.
References
- Shawnee Mission Medical Center: Pediatric Sensory Integration Therapy
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Auditory Processing Disorder in Children
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children; Teri James Bellis, PhD, CCC-A
- KidsHealth: Auditory Processing Disorder
