Auditory Integration Training

Edelson, Stephen M.; Arin, Deborah; Bauman, Margaret L.; Lukas, Scott E.; Rudy, Jane; Sholar, Michelle B.; Rimland, Bernard

doi:10.1177/108835769901400202

Cited by 34 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some studies evaluating the effectiveness of the AIT report improvements (42, 43) and others do not (36, 44–47). However, some of the above studies that do not support unique positive effects of AIT provide documentation of positive effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Auditory Hypersensitivities in Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Findings Evaluating the Listening Project Protocol

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Auditory hypersensitivities are a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study, the effectiveness of a novel intervention, the listening project protocol (LPP), was evaluated in two trials conducted with children diagnosed with ASD. LPP was developed to reduce auditory hypersensitivities. LPP is based on a theoretical “neural exercise” model that uses computer altered acoustic stimulation to recruit the neural regulation of middle ear muscles. Features of the intervention stimuli were informed by basic research in speech and hearing sciences that has identified the specific acoustic frequencies necessary to understand speech, which must pass through middle ear structures before being processed by other components of the auditory system. LPP was hypothesized to reduce auditory hypersensitivities by increasing the neural tone to the middle ear muscles to functionally dampen competing sounds in frequencies lower than human speech. The trials demonstrated that LPP, when contrasted to control conditions, selectively reduced auditory hypersensitivities. These findings are consistent with the polyvagal theory, which emphasizes the role of the middle ear muscles in social communication.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Auditory Hypersensitivities in Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Findings Evaluating the Listening Project Protocol

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Characterised through impaired development in social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviours and interests [1]. In addition, atypical responses to sensory stimulation have been documented in individuals with ASD since its original descriptions in the 1940s by Kanner [2] and Asperger [3], with particular prevalence being exhibited within the auditory domain [4][5][6][7][8]. Data collected by the Autism Research Institute from over 17,000 families of children with autism, found that approximately 40% contained parental reports of sound sensitivity [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SoundFields: A Virtual Reality Game Designed to Address Auditory Hypersensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterised as having impairments in social-emotional interaction and communication, alongside displaying repetitive behaviours and interests. Additionally, they can frequently experience difficulties in processing sensory information with particular prevalence in the auditory domain. Often triggered by everyday environmental sounds, auditory hypersensitivity can provoke self-regulatory fear responses such as crying and isolation from sounds. This paper presents SoundFields, an interactive virtual reality game designed to address this area by integrating exposure based therapy techniques into game mechanics and delivering target auditory stimuli to the player rendered via binaural based spatial audio. A pilot study was conducted with six participants diagnosed with ASD who displayed hypersensitivity to specific sounds to evaluate the use of SoundFields as a tool to reduce levels of anxiety associated with identified problematic sounds. During the course of the investigation participants played the game weekly over four weeks and all participants actively engaged with the virtual reality (VR) environment and enjoyed playing the game. Following this period, a comparison of pre- and post-study measurements showed a significant decrease in anxiety linked to target auditory stimuli. The study results therefore suggest that SoundFields could be an effective tool for helping individuals with autism manage auditory hypersensitivity.

show abstract