New Research on Therapeutic Listening®

There is a new peer-reviewed article on the effectiveness of Therapeutic Listening in the March/April 2007 issue of The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. In this article, Leah Hall (MS, OTR/L) and Jane Case-Smith (EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA) explored the effect of Therapeutic Listening® on children with sensory processing disorders and visual-motor delays.

Therapeutic Listening has always been embedded in the sensory integration framework. This article provides new evidence for the wisdom of that approach. Highlights of the article are provided below.

CLICK HERE for a two-page printable summary (in PDF format).

CLICK HERE to go to the AJOT website and view an online abstract, or to print the full article.

Quotes from Hall & Case-Smith*

"The present study produced encouraging findings to support the use of Therapeutic Listening as part of an overall sensory integrative approach to occupational therapy in elementary school-age children. Therapeutic Listening, along with sensory diet strategies, can be effective in reducing many behaviors associated with sensory integration disorder" (p. 215).

"One child's ADHD medication was reduced after 1 month of Therapeutic Listening because his behavior and attention had improved dramatically" (p. 213).

"[My son] is now interacting with classmates. He [now] talks about [his friends]. His teacher said he used to walk outside the play area with his head down to avoid the other kids. Now he is playing beside the other kids. Eye contact has improved" (p. 214).

Study Overview

• 10 children ages 5-11
• All children had Definite Difference in at least 3 subtests on Sensory Profile
• All children had at least 1 SD below norm on VMI
• Phase I: 4-week sensory diet
• Phase II: 8-week sensory diet + Therapeutic Listening
• Each child acted as his or her own control

Statistical Findings

Mean scores for ETCH Total Legibility showed significant improvement during Therapeutic Listening phase.

Mean scores for VMI Visual subtest showed significant improvement during Therapeutic Listening phase.

Over 12 weeks there was a significant improvement on the Total Sensory Profile Score (mean change = 71 points) plus a significant improvement in 8 of 14 subtests including:

• Auditory Processing**
• Touch Processing
• Multi-sensory Processing
• Oral Sensory Processing
• Body Position & Movement
• Emotional Responses
• Emotional/Social Responses
• Behavioral Outcomes**
**Indicates areas of greatest change

Qualitative Findings

Parents reported improvements in:

• Attention
• Interaction with peers
• Transitions
• Listening
• Self-awareness
• Communication
• Sleep patterns
• Following directions

Parent reports:

• 4 of 5 children with auditory hypersensitivity had improved tolerance of noise
• All 4 children who had tantrums on a regular basis showed a marked decrease
• 5 of 6 children with very high energy were calmer
• 3 children had improved eye contact
• 4 children had improved school reports during the Therapeutic Listening phase

Handwriting Scores

Two children were receiving services for handwriting skills during the study. In both cases, handwriting performance jumped when Therapeutic Listening was implemented.

*Hall L. & Case-Smith, J. (2007). The effect of sound-based intervention on children with sensory processing disorders and visual-motor delays. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61 (2), 209-215.