Therapeutic Listening

Potential results from Therapeutic Listening

Therapeutic Listening begins in a clinic setting during a therapy session, eventually moving into the home once the child is able to tolerate music during sessions. It involves listening to modulated music two times per day with three hours in between sessions at home.

The music stimulates the vestibular/cochlear system, the attending and organizing mechanisms of the middle ear, as well as the interconnections throughout the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system, which provides the foundation for temporal-spatial organization for all other senses. 

The duration of program can be two to six months or longer depending on child.  As with all other treatments for the human nervous system, results will vary among individuals.  Some changes you may see in your child include:

• Improved emotional state
• Improved bowel and bladder function
• Improved sleep patterns
• Balanced eating patterns with awareness of being full
• Increased attention and awareness to sounds with a decreased sensitivity to sound
• Decrease flight/fright response i.e sensory defensiveness
• Improved self regulation
• Improved transitions
• Improved spatial orientation
• Improved posture
• Improved motor coordination
• Improved body in space awareness
• Improved motor planning
• Improved laterality and bilateral skill
• Improved eye-hand coordination
• Improved handwriting
• Improved emotional expression
• Improved social skills

Equipment needed at home:

• Portable CD player with volume control and a shuffle mode. 
• A specific type of headphone is needed to provide the sound quality necessary to make Therapeutic Listening effective.  Your therapist can give you more information on how to purchase these.
• A CD belt or fanny pack
• Specifically designed CDs that range in price from $40 to $50.  These CDs are available for loan at a discounted price.

Therapeutic Listening has been integrated into a sensory processing model by Sheila Frick, OTR. Page includes information obtained from:  "Questions Frequently Asked by Parents, Vital Links 1999" and "A Brief Introduction to Therapeutic Listening, Vital Links 2006"

Our Locations

Burnsville:  952-898-5700
BurnsvillePeds@CourageCenter.org

Forest Lake: 651-464-5235
ForestLakePeds@CourageCenter.org

Golden Valley: 763-588-0811 or 1-888-846-8253
pedscarenavigator@couragecenter.org

Stillwater: 651-439-8283
StCroixPeds@CourageCenter.org

See our Locations page for maps and directions.