The Listening Program for sensory issues

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done this for their child? Its the series of cds, your child listens to with earphones, for 15 minutes a day, sometimes twice a day. Curious to hear feedback on how it worked, if it worked, how tightly people adhered to the program, if it was hard to do, etc etc.. Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Hi, we did this a few years ago with our son when he was about 5. We did do exactly go with the program. He didn't mind it too much but he did get bored with it at times. We ended up buying a second headset and a CD player that had two headphone jacks so my husband or I could listen with him. That worked actually pretty well. There were a couple of the CDs he didn't like and resisted more than others. We tried to do some activity that didn't require us to communicate during this time like drawing or building with legos. You wanted to you if it worked for us. I am not sure that I saw much of a difference in him. Maybe a tiny bit but nothing that really made a difference. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

We did this a few years ago and I'm not sure it did anything. We rented the CDs from our OT's office so it was affordable and I was willing to try it. DS did have what they called an 'orientating response' that was interesting - it seem to calm him down immediately. But, I can't say that he wouldn't have had the same response listening to a master mix of regular, soothing music. There were some CDs that he just flat out did not like. It wasn't difficult to get him to listen every day, we usually did it in the van driving to school/home/grocery or just hanging around the house. We did not let him have screen time while he was doing it.

Looking back on it all, I'm not sorry we did it and I don't feel we wasted our money, but that's only because we didn't purchase the CDs, we rented them. If we'd purchased them, I think I wouldn't be so happy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. When you were in the van, did he use earphones to listen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. When you were in the van, did he use earphones to listen?

Another question for pp, why no screen time?

We're considering this for my kid and I was thinking he might be able to play games on his iPad.

[Anonymous]

My DS is doing this. We do it twice a day for 30 min. each time. He is 3.5 and he does busy work while listening to the cds. He has a fanny pack that he keeps it in. He has hated some CDs and some work wonderfully. His therapist says never use it in the car or while watching tv. She wants him coloring or playing with play doh or building blocks, using scissors. On his therapy days we only do it one time. I just turn the volume down low enough where he can hear it as background noise, and he can still here what is going on around him. My son has autism and sensory processing disorder. I has worked very well for us, and we are seeing huge changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. When you were in the van, did he use earphones to listen?

Another question for pp, why no screen time?

We're considering this for my kid and I was thinking he might be able to play games on his iPad.

Most therapists want the child to be doing something that will help with sensory integration. If he likes the iPad then he won't be learning to tolerate anything new. I don't know how old your child is, but you can do arts and crafts, play with shaving cream, or playdoh, or reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. When you were in the van, did he use earphones to listen?

Another question for pp, why no screen time?

We're considering this for my kid and I was thinking he might be able to play games on his iPad.

20:44 here. DS used his headphones anytime he was listening to the program. You're supposed to use the headphones (expensive ones!) because sometimes different things play in different ears. Our OT told us no screen time because of something to do with the part of the brain stimulated when looking at a screen overwhelming the part they're trying to work on with the listening program.

[Anonymous]

``I has worked very well for us, and we are seeing huge changes. ''

OP here. Can you explain what the huge changes are? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: ``I has worked very well for us, and we are seeing huge changes. ''

OP here. Can you explain what the huge changes are? Thanks

He is becoming more aware each week. It is almost like a switch has been turned on. When he started the program three months ago, he was lost in his own world. He is making eye contact, answering questions with yes and no, and being patient when he has to wait for something(sometimes). Of course he has intensive therapy and pre-school four days a week, so I am sure that is helping too. I just notice that after a session he starts using more words and seems more in control of his body. He is also more aggressive and gets angry when he does not get something he wants. His therapist says this happens because he is becoming more aware.

[Anonymous]

Waste of time and money for us and several other families I know. I think a very small number of people do see a benefit and most don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Waste of time and money for us and several other families I know. I think a very small number of people do see a benefit and most don't.

I think you have to start it early. Like around age 2.5-3 like we did. You also have to be extremely routine with it, make it just a part of everyday life. It also seems to work best with children who have severe communication problems.

[Anonymous]

^^It only cost me a one time $50 fee to rent the cd's and headphones.

[Anonymous]

We did it with my son last year, three at the time. I didn't feel like it made any difference. I guess I felt like it was worth a try, but I really didn't see any changes.

[Anonymous]

We tried it a few years ago and agian this year. No changes at all.