Article: Sensory Builders

Can The Listening Program^® really change the brain?

Are you listening to your
fullest potential?

Many of us, children and adults alike, are not "listening" to our fullest potential. In fact, many, many people experience "listening disabilities" or "auditory disabilities" and do not realize it.

These weaknesses or problems in processing sound can adversely affect us in many ways including: communication skills, learning abilities, attention and behavior, energy levels, coordination, relaxation, brain function, and sensory integration. Improving or enhancing our ability to process sound can produce specific benefits.

People of all ages can be trained to process sound more effectively to overcome weaknesses or further develop listening-related abilities.

Background Theories

Over forty years ago, a French ear surgeon, Dr. Alfred Tomatis, made a series of groundbreaking discoveries about the role of the ear and hearing in brain development and organization. We now know that, before birth, the human brain's first sensory experiences are the rich sounds inside the womb. Tomatis showed that our auditory nerve is fundamental to human neurology; it helps to regulate not only balance and spatial orientation, but even vision and our tactile senses. He also discovered that sound is a " nutrient " that can stimulate and feed the brain. One of his greatest innovations was to find new ways to stimulate the ear and brain that can improve hearing, learning, and behavior.

The Listening Program^® is a sound stimulation auditory therapy program consisting of eight specially developed Compact Discs (CDs) conveniently bound together with the 9-part Instructional Guidebook and Listening Journal. Each CD contains four progressive segments that are 15 minutes each. Re-arranged, specially engineered classical music and nature sounds comprise the listening content. The arrangements are treated with "filtering" and "gating" at gradually increasing levels through the course of the eight CD series. These techniques are the basis for the therapy process. The basic listening schedule calls for two 15-minute segments of headphone listening per day, 5 days a week, for a period of 8 weeks. It can be completed at home, at school, or in the office.

Improvement in auditory processing is just the beginning ... Incredible care has been taken to use expertise from the best minds in the field to create an auditory therapy program that is easy to do at home, is immensely enjoyable, and also extremely successful in strengthening auditory and related abilities. Here is a program that can benefit anyone, but especially individuals who have difficulties in the areas of auditory perception, processing, and memory.

The Listening Program^® has helped individuals make improvements in many areas, including the following:

TLP Extension - Sensory Integration CD - An optional add-on for The Listening Program, the Sensory Integration CD helps develop the brain's organization of sensory input.

Sensory Integration Kids-Is a Special CD added to The Listenting Program
The new SI KIDS 1 CD has more focus on spatial awareness and sound localization. These are elements that stimulate our vestibular systems. Thanks to new technologies and creative elements in recording as well as in post production, we are able to provide stimulation in a totally new way than we have ever been able to do before.

One of the main elements that is different from our original Sensory Integration CD is the incorporation of a new process called Spatial Surround™** (patent pending). You as the listener can now more clearly determine the spatial properties of the sound. We add movement to the treatment to create Spatial Surround Dynamic. This is accomplished by processing the music in a multi-channel environment that uses five completely independent tracks. This process allows us to move the sound of each instrument around in a 360 degree field.

Light and sound has a short-term benefit of inducing the desired brain state. The long-term benefits are the spawning of neural pathways. So the more you use it the faster you build those neural pathways for optimum attention. There is no minimum or maximum.

Light and sound units and be purchased or you can pay usage fees at the center. It is a suggested purchase for all graduates.

Theoretically, sensory sensitivity can be due to high transmitter levels that interact with hypothalamic functioning. Our Balance Formula 1 supplement would be ideal in aiding in balancing the neurotransmitters and improving the sensory functions managed by the hypothalamus. The Hypothalamus (with the Cerebral Hemispheres) is intimately involved in the integration of all physiological stimulation, which it then translates it and assembles into one discernible "package," for us to experience.

When the Hypothalamus is not working correctly, when it’s not functioning up to par, the wrong neuro-signals are generated and the wrong neuro-messages are received, resulting in an inaccurate integration of all our sensory input, leading to faulty perceptions which can be very subtle but nonetheless powerful in how we experience life. For More information Click Here
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Individuals of all ages with cognitive deficits due to brain injury, auditory processing disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, or developmental disabilities will enjoy and benefit from this talking Cognitive Training Software to help improve...

These brain-training exercises actually speak to the user in a realistic human voice, making him feel as though he is playing with a real person who encourages, praises and challenges him to do his best. SoundSmart automatically adapts its presentation to the age of the “player” — novel feedback and entertaining encouragement for kids, colorful but not childish presentation for adults.

SoundSmart Attention Coach™ (beginner, intermediate and advanced levels) provides drill and practice in following spoken instructions, which gradually become more and more complex. The Speed, Patience and Listening Tracks can be used to help shape behavioral self-control as well as listening skills. When the Beginner level is set for children, the program may also be used as an entertaining and useful alphabet teaching game.

SoundSmart Math & Memory Coach™ is designed so that for children, each of its levels (A, 1-4) addresses the corresponding grade level of the elementary school math curriculum, grades K through 4. As is the case with all of the SoundSmart programs, the Math & Memory coach automatically adapts its presentation to the age of the user and may be used with adults as well as children. Using the computer’s spoken instructions, the programs help develop working memory, mental math skills, and number concepts. The Math & Memory Coach may be used to provide drill and practice in elementary math skills, or the trainer may select options to improve speed, self-control, patience or auditory processing.

SoundSmart Sound Discrimination Coach™ works to improve listening skills in people with language and reading problems due to learning disabilities, central auditory processing disorder or brain injury. Using all natural speech, this program computerizes time-tested traditional methods used by speech language professionals to improve phonemic awareness. The program challenges the user with distractions, distortions in speech, background sounds and changes in pitch in order to train him or her to listen well under all types of conditions.

Home version available through Incredible Horizons Home products Purchasing Info

Friendly, Engaging Road Game
to develop the cognitive skills you need to be a good driver!

SmartDriver is a stimulating, entertaining, non-violent driving game designed to build cognitive skills and self-esteem in individuals, ages 5 through adult, who have difficulty processing information due to brain injuries, ADHD, visual processing disorders or learning disabilities. To win the game, you must drive your car successfully through progressively more difficult roads and driving situations. You must keep your car on the road, watch the speed limit, stop for red lights and trains, be helpful by picking up passengers, and avoid potholes and other obstacles. Other cars can act wild and reckless, bumping into you for no good reason, so you must learn to drive defensively. You win prize money by following the rules of the road and being a careful, defensive driver.

The purpose of SmartDriver is to teach the concepts and attitudes necessary for smart, safe driving plus a few of the basic rules of the road. It is designed to be fun while improving visual tracking skills, hand-eye coordination, planning, attention to detail, concentration, memory and patience. While lively and entertaining, the exercises contain no violence and are not frenetic or overwhelmingly stimulating. Goals are clearly defined, and the player can learn to succeed and to be proud of newly acquired skills and capabilities.

SmartDriver consists of thirty progressive levels of difficulty, which are divided into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced stages. To pass from one level to the next, you must drive well enough to avoid getting too many damage or penalty points. You may opt to begin at the Beginner 1 Level, or if you prefer, you may elect to start at any level you wish. Although the program is game-like, it provides detailed record keeping for use by a parent, teacher or therapist. The computer remembers each user’s scores and completed levels from one session to the next. Scores can be printed. To be effective, training needs to be implemented for a minimum of two hours per week, which can be done in four half-hour segments.

Captains Log Module 2: Visual Motor Skills trains eye/hand coordination, visual scanning, visual tracking and fine motor control.

1. Finger Tapping can be used to evaluate and improve upper extremity fine motor speed. When an initial auditory signal is given, the client is to tap an index finger on the input device as fast as possible until a second auditory signal is given.

2. Maze Learning helps develop fine motor control, anticipatory planning, strategy and spatial organization. The client uses an input device to move the cursor from the starting point through the maze to get to the "cheese."

3. Spatial Organization develops spatial orientation and short-term spatial memory. Requires the client to orient a line in the same direction and angle as the target line presented.

4. Visual Tracking/Discrimination enhances the ability to orient spatially in a continuously changing environment and to discriminate visual stimuli and coordinate motor responses in accordance with that discrimination. The client is required to keep the cursor on the "road."

5. Visual Tracking/Inhibition enhances the ability to integrate visual input with fine motor output, developing the capacity to shift mental sets. Client moves a "paddle" up and down the screen to hit a "ball" as it moves randomly back and forth across the computer screen. The "inhibition" option may be selected to randomly change the border color, and thus the required response.

6. Visuospatial Tracking/Response helps train the ability to coordinate visual input with motor output. The ability to shift mental sets and respond to target stimuli is also developed. Client attempts to keep the cursor inside a large box, which moves randomly about the screen. When a target appears on the screen, the client must move the cursor out of the box to the target and then return the cursor to the box as quickly as possible.

7. Visuospatial Memory helps to develop visual orientation and short-term spatial memory. The client plays a "concentration" type of game using a grid of colors.

Module 3: Conceptual Skills helps train basic reasoning, memory and perceptual discrimination.

1. Pattern Display Match helps to develop visual scanning and short-term memory of patterned stimuli. Client determines whether or not the patterns of dots on each of two “dominoes” displayed are the same.

2. Numeric Skills focuses on visual scanning, short-term memory and counting ability in both a random and an orderly fashion. Requires client to count the number of stimuli that appear on the screen. The color, shape and arrangement of the stimuli depend on the level of difficulty selected.

3. Size Discrimination enhances the understanding of the concept of relative size. Trains visual scanning abilities and immediate visual memory in a task that requires ranking the relative sizes of vertical bars.

4. Symbolic Display Match develops sorting or categorizing ability and trains the capacity to shift from one sorting principle to another. The client matches two figures on the screen according to a sorting principle of color or shape, or color and shape combined.

5. Trail Sequence A helps to develop the ability to remember verbally and spatiality ones position within a familiar sequence while visually scanning a random display and to move efficiently from one letter in the display to another.

6. Trail Sequence B enhances flexibility in ones thought processes. This program develops the ability to remember ones position within an unfamiliar sequence while visually scanning a random display. One must rapidly shift sets or focus between two separate sequences.

7. Conceptual Discrimination is designed to train abstract concepts based on visual pictures. Client discriminates and classifies objects based on shape, size, color, quantity and patterns. This program helps to teach rule making and the ability to shift cognitive sets.

Module 4: Numeric Concepts/Memory Skills trains basic mathematical concepts, memory, problem solving and organizational skills, and detailed reading comprehension.

1. Numeric Discrimination fosters the understanding of the concepts FEWEST and MOST and knowing when it is necessary to count and when it is possible to judge by eye. Client must answer frequently changing questions and focus on salient information.

2. Numeric Combinations aids in understanding the concept of SAME when applied to number (as opposed to pattern), and helps the client to understand categorizing and grouping. Trains the client to determine when it is preferable to attend to the total picture or only to its components.

3. Number Line Logic helps in the comprehension of BOTH, developing the ability to use the ideas of sets and their conjunction, and to shift strategies as a problem grows more complex.

4. Numeric Distinctions presents the concepts of CLOSEST and FARTHEST, and BIGGEST and SMALLEST. Client develops the ability to focus on salient information by solving simple problems based on pictures presenting two distinct types of quantities -- distance and value.

5. Ordinal Numbers aids in the understanding of ordinal numbers, requires the client to make deductions from partial information and to follow several instructions in order. Colored stripes hide a set of three large block letters. One part of a letter is revealed each time the client correctly locates a stripe. Four possible answers to the puzzle are displayed at the bottom of the screen.

6. Numeric Sequences requires the client to find the pattern in numeric sequences, to estimate and to shift strategies.

7. Numeric Classification cultivates the ability to classify objects based on attributes of color, shape, or position, singly or in any combination.

8. Numeric Dimensions encourages understanding of the concepts of TALLEST and SHORTEST, WIDEST and NARROWEST, MORE THAN and LESS THAN. Requires the client to address frequently-changing questions and to focus on salient information

Home version available through Incredible Horizons Home products Purchasing Info

See significant, lasting changes in auditory and visual sequential processing skills and short-term memory. Psychologists and educators call it "sequential processing." It's essential to every mental process, including every level of verbal communication. Better sequential processing enables us to take in more of what there is to see and hear. It determines how quickly and clearly we can grasp concepts with 3 or 5 or 7 components. And it determines how effectively we can express ourselves to others. If sequential processing capacity is limited, it's a little like not having enough RAM in your computer. Some things work just fine. Others work, but s-l-o-w-l-y, or more crudely. And certain things become impossible, resulting in frustration.

Fast, simple, easy-to-use software helps you get powerful results in as little as 10 minutes per day. With Brain Builder, you play up to 7 different 2-3 minute activities every day. Brain Builder automatically sets and adjusts the level of difficulty to help you succeed and challenge you to improve, providing feedback every step of the way.

What kind of intelligence will the 21st Century require? The rate at which we need to process information in today's high-speed, information-packed, constantly changing competitive environment can be overwhelming. Making matters worse, many children and adults must work unusually hard to do normal tasks, due to processing inefficiencies

The principle behind Brain Builder is exercise. The more you exercise your brain's fundamental processing capacities, the stronger, more efficient and more organized they become. As the pathways of your neural network proliferate and deepen, so too will your ability to absorb and process information quickly and easily.

The result is clearer, quicker thinking, less confusion and better communication. You'll have less need to reread information or hear it repeated, and faster, more accurate responses to real-life or academic problems. Naturally, this means less stress, higher self-esteem, and greater satisfaction and all-around success in life.

Brain Builder's seven Neurodevelopmental exercises are tuned to the precise frequency, intensity, and duration that best stimulates higher brain function, opens the mind, and trains it to learn more effectively.

There are three (3) visual activities, three (3) auditory activities, and one (1) intensity activity. The six core activities all involve seeing or hearing, and then recalling, a series of numbers. This skill is often measured by standardized tests, where it is called "digit span."

In Brain Builder, digit span is not just tested, but exercised. There are six separate activities that, over time, have been shown to build sequential processing capacities in people at all levels. With regular use of Brain Builder, you can gradually increase the number or "span" of digits, or numbers, that you can store and retrieve. This increases your short-term memory capacity.

By doing these exercises, you increase the number of pieces of information that you can take in sequentially, hold, process, and recall. Better memory is just the first level of benefit you will notice. Building digit span means increasing the number of abstractions you can keep in mind when understanding and processing language, and the ability to think sequentially in any life situation. If you can grasp the relationship of more factors that are interacting in a given situation you may be able to solve problems successfully that would otherwise be too complex to comprehend.

Special Note: Brain Builder is for adults and children as young as four (4) with guidance

For info related to brain plasticity and new brain research Click here. The brain can heal and be revitalized with new neuropathways.

For more info on healthy- drug free programs for successful living click on a link below

Sensory Builders

Light and Sound is a very enjoyable neurotechnology that is designed to improve sensory integration by stimulating new neural pathways. See the home page for more information.

Music specifically for sensory Integration can be found in the Hemi-Sync link