Autism Therapy: listening therapy

definition of listening therapy: Type of therapy that stimulates the auditory (listening) system of the brain. Listening therapy may be helpful for children with autism who are overly sensitive to sounds. It may also be helpful for sensory integration disorder and communication disorders.

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A Case Study of a Five-year-old Child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified Using Sound-Based Interventions
Occupational Therapy International, by Nwora, AJ, and Gee BM, published in 2009, summarized Apr 17, 2009

Listening therapy may help children with autism with sensory processing, listening, and language skills.

Occupational therapists (OT) often use sensory integration therapy as a main approach when treating children with autism. Sensory integration therapy takes a wide range of forms, one of which is listening therapy/sound therapy. There are very few studies that look to see if listening therapy helps children with autism. The aim of this case study was to see if The Listening Program would help a five-year-old boy with autism. In this case, listening therapy was chosen to reduce sensory sensitivity enhance language use and improve functional behavior.


Brief Report: The Effects of Tomatis Sound Therapy on Language in Children with Autism
J Autism Dev Disord, by Corbett, BA, Shickman K., and Ferrer E., published in 2008, summarized Apr 24, 2008

Listening therapy does not appear to help children with autism learn language.

This study was designed to see if the Tomatis version of listening therapy could help the language of children with autism. The study looked at ability to speak as well as ability to understand. The authors did not find a difference between those children who received listening therapy and those who received a placebo. The study had only 11 children and the children had different levels of language. Therefore, the authors were not able to tell if maybe listening therapy works better for children who have more or less language.

Dr. Gerritsen of San Felipe del Agua, Mexico wrote a letter in response to the study. In the letter she described errors in the research. Dr. Corbett answered that indeed the study was small, but the data from the study suggest that there is no reason to spend more money researching the effect of the Tomatis method.


Auditory Integration Training and Other Sound Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review
Arch Dis Child, by Sinha, Y., Silove N., Wheeler D., and Williams K., published in 2006, summarized Jan 27, 2007

There is no scientific support for the use of listening therapy in people with autism.

Many people with autism are sensitive to sounds and several treatments have been designed to help this: auditory integration therapy (AIT), Tomatis method, and Samonas sound therapy. This systematic review was designed to see whether these treatments help people with autism. The authors note that many different types of studies have been done and it is hard to compare the different studies. In their review, however, they did not find any sign that listening therapy works. The authors did find that it is important to keep the volume of the therapy low so as not to hurt the ears.


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Listening Therapy Center Opens in the Philippines

Nov 3, 2011

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines. Although a dentist by training, Gina felt teaching preschool was a better way to help families who had children with autism and other developmental issues such as ADHD. The center uses the Tomatis Method. Gina explains, “The Tomatis method re-trains the listening system by using electronically modified music and language to re-educate, stimulate and improve the way in which we process auditory information.” Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty in communication and social interaction, the Tomatis methods attempts to increase listening skills, communication, and memory and attention. Gina has seen that Tomatis worked well with other therapies including occupational therapy, sensory integration, and speech therapy.

Read original article: All Ears for the Tomatis Method


Georgia Therapists Provide Variety of Therapies to Help Children with Autism

Apr 10, 2009

Georgia therapists provide a variety of interventions for children with autism. Treatments range from applied behavior analysis (ABA) to auditory therapy, which uses sound to stimulate areas of the brain. The Brain Balance approach works to integrate both sides of the child's brain using rhythm, bio nutrition, and sensory motor exercises. A Healing Place provides therapy in the way of Brain Power (BP2), an intervention that also trains both sides of the brain. 

Read original article.


Gluten-Free & Casein-Free Diets help other Therapies Work for Child

Nov 5, 2007

A mother of a child with autism in Iloilo, Philippines, found that using a gluten-free diet and casein-free diet helped her son with his other therapies for autism (occupational, speech, inclusion, ABA, and listening therapy). She used the Internet and a parent support site, www.autismpinoy.com, to help her in her research for dietary interventions.

Read original article.


Listening Therapy: Key to Understanding

Feb 19, 2007

A listening therapy program enabled a child with autism to begin to talk. A Maryland couple discovered that their child with left-ear dominance had problems communicating, focusing, learning, and socializing. They found treatment for their child involving digital technology that switched ear dominance.

Key to Me Therapy Services in Bradley Beach, MD, provides three rooms of auditory testing, listening equipment and play therapy activities. 

Read original article. 


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    • Synonyms for listening therapy include: auditory therapy, listening therapy, therapeutic listening, therapeutic listening program, therapeutic listening therapy
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