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Listen and Learn Centre
Integrated Listening and Learning Centre PDF Print E-mail

 

 

 

For  assessment and remediation of learning and developmental  difficulties, especially ADD/ADHD, auditory processing and  autism spectrum disorders. The therapeutic approach uses carefully devised programs using sound, art and movement to create new neural pathways.  We can assist your child to discover their true potential. 

 

This Centre is able to treat a wide range of disorders in children, due to a unique program that combines both sound and movement. We offer an individualised program that will target each clients specific areas of difficulty. 

 * Developmental Delay                                                                       

* Auditory Processing Disorder

* Dyslexia & Motor Difficulties

* ADD/ADHD

* Austism Spectrum Disorders

* Concentration Difficulties

* Dyslexia & Related Concentration Difficulties

* Learning Difficulties

* Attention Deficit

 

We are dedicated to maximising learning, behavioural and social potential in both children and adults..

  • Music Based Auditory stimulation - Part time and home based programs
  • Talks to schools groups and health care professionals about Auditory Processing Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders & ADD/ADHD
  • Clinic Intensive Tomatis Based Auditory - Sensory Integration program
  • Physical Neurological Motor - Programs to improve learning and co-ordination
  • Behaviour Management - Supporting parents with nutritional and behavioural issues
  •  Education Solutions  - Tutoring in one-to-one sessions 

 

 

 

 

For Children ....

For many children with a suspected Auditory Processing issue, the world can be a confusing and frustrating place.

The verbal messages that their brains are receiving are often not what was actually said—and they have no way of knowing otherwise.

Sometimes speech becomes so muddled that it doesn’t make sense and they must guess what was said.

Children cope with this stress in a variety of ways, sometimes by withdrawing or showing aggressive behaviour.

Common symptoms:

· Mishearing or misunderstanding instructions, questions and general conversation

· Not doing as “told”

· Guessing, copying or being slow to begin tasks

· Tuning out to talk

· Complaining that school/tasks are boring

· Delayed language and/or speech development

· Difficulty learning to read and spell

· Difficulty storing and retrieving information

· Easily distracted

· Nervous in new situations or around unfamiliar people

· Disliking crowds

· Reluctant to contribute or to ask questions

· Tiring easily and lacking motivation

· Easily upset or angered

· Preferring routines and predictability

· Thriving in one to one situations

· Poorly developed group social skills

· Dominating or wanting to control conversation or play

· Fear of failure and of being humiliated, tend not to attempt new tasks

 

For Adults .....                                

Stimulating the ear and nervous system and re-charging the brain, releases latent vitality, peace, relaxation

and confidence.

 

By using specially treated, high quality filtered music pioneered by French Ear NoseThroat Physician

Dr A Tomatis, we can enhance brain function in specific areas:

 · Sensory-Motor:           balance and co-ordination and spatial awareness

· Language:                   writing, reading, maths,  concentration, memory, attention and speech  issues

· Integration:                  assisting self-confidence, energy,  emotional regulation,  creativity,  clarity.

· Home and Clinic based options available.

 

 

Bone Conduction......

 

 Bone Conduction is an added form of stimulation to the Vestibular system that is stronger than air conduction alone and is particularly helpful in dealing with disturbances of balance, fine and gross motor development and speech and language control. The increased input to the cortex of the brain accelerates the maturation of the brain as well. 

 

Therefore, along with the improvements observed in balance and motor control are improvements in emotional control with reduced anxiety.

 

For people struggling with expressive language issues, the bone conduction gives greater awareness of the mouth, jaw and lips improving use of and organisations of the muscles of articulation. 

The listener also develops a deeper sense of listening to him or herself. This improved awareness of self strengthens the ego promoting greater self confidence and improved social relationships. Individuals with high anxiety levels can also benefit from getting a deeper body awareness and feeling of being grounded through bone conduction.

 

Most children and adults will do very well with standard air conduction.  Many will gain quicker results with the addition of bone conduction due to its effect on the body.  Those who will be most appropriate for the added bone conduction are therefore individuals with Sensory Integration (SI) issues. 

This includes individuals with -

· poor sense of balance

· poor fine and gross motor coordination

· poor ability at sports

· carsickness

 

What improvements can be expected:

· Better fine and gross motor skills

· Better balance and co-ordination

· Better muscle tone

· Neater handwriting

· Improved reading

· Improved maths

· Improved concentration and attention

· Increased creativity

· Less emotional—emotional regulation

· More co-operative

· Less impulsivity

· Better socialisaton

· Improved general health

· More settled - less active    - less reactive    - better sleep   …… and better at sports and athletics too!

 

Auditory Screening assessment. 

We are able to detect -

· Attention issues

· Degree to which extra noise can be filtered out and important information can be focussed on

· Processing speed

· Primitive reflexes

· Dominance

· Memory

· Making sense of speech

· Auditory cohesion and discrimination

· Auditory overload

· Which neurological areas need strengthening

· Which auditory frequencies are not being heard

 

 

Home Based Sound Stimulation ....

 

We can offer to eligible clients a cost effective Home Based Listening Program with the Integrated Learning System (ILS) that includes a complete movement component.

After a Listening Test and Neurodevelopmental assessment, a home program will be outlined.

A splitter can allow 2 children to be able to listen at the same time.

This is ideal for those who are unable to access our Intensive Clinic Based Program, or for those wanting

top-up programs.

 

 

Advantages of Sound Stimulation are:

· It can be done at your convenience at home

· It can be done at the same time as doing other things—as recommended by our Therapist

· It is cost effective

· It has the potential to impact on the entire auditory pathway, physically activating the middle ear muscles, stimulating the hair cells and enhancing neural connections

· This stimulation, when combined with movement, improves the other connected nervous systems, eg visual, motor, balance, co-ordination and proprioception.  It develops integration of the two cerebral            hemispheres

· Improvements in activity levels, also behaviour, socialisation and  sleep often occur

· These improvements allow for effective learning and communication.

 

 

Nutrition Assistance ....      

To support, change and improve neurological growth, we offer a variety of nutritional protocols that will enhance progress in all programs that we offer. These protocols address the need to maintain optimum digestive health for optimum brain function. We have one on one sessions with parents and design an individual program.

 

 

Improvement can be noted in the following areas:

· Fussy eating habits

· A narrow appetite

· Cravings or food hates

· Diahorrea/constipation

· Allergies

· Behavioural issues

· Learning issues

 

 

 

Sand Tray .....

 

Sand Tray uses a clear sand scape plus figures and objects in a safe and protected space.

 

This allows one to explore personal difficulties without words or interruption.

"A way of expressing in picture/symbol form, truths that cannot be uttered in words."  J Campbell.

 

 

Neurofeedback ....

This is a scientifically based drug free approach for children and teenagers who have attention and

concentration difficulties and may have a history of drug therapy, eg Ritalin/Dex, etc.

 

Neurofeedback is designed to improve brain attention by modifying brain activity and encouraging the development of a balance in brainwave activity.

 

 

 

This provides the opportunity for permanent change at brain level.

Progress is monitored & given to the client in order to maintain accurate feedback and self monitoring. 

 

 

 

 

 

Behaviour Management .....

 

 

 

We are able to provide training and support for parents in their management of difficult or challenging behaviour.

 

We offer individual or group sessions to help implement change within your family.  This behaviour coaching program can enable parents to review existing parenting strategies and implement new and more effective ones.

 

Our programs are based on "Positive Parenting"  techniques which research shows to be the most effective way to establish appropriate behaviours which lead to happier children, happier families, and provide a sound basis for a child's ongoing development.

 Parent Support Forum .....

 

Knowing that you are not alone is a crucial step toward supporting both you and your child on your journey to

recovery.

 

We offer both newsletter and in session forums for parents with children involved in programs at our clinic.

 

· Receive up to date information about childhood development

· Peer support

· Question time

· Short talks on areas of interest

· An up to date newsletter with information and contacts

 

 

 

 

Active Brain Fitness ...

 

"Greater mental activity, social activity and physical activity means your chances of reducing risk (Dementia and related illnesses) are better”.  Dr Michael Valenuela.

 

It is now possible to increase our mind functioning rather than accept that with age you are going to be slower and more forgetful.  We at Blue Horizon Clinic have created a dynamic group program that uses the latest information in the area of Neuroscience to enhance and maximise brain function potential.

 

In a group situation we use specially treated music and tasks that target specific brain function, such as processing speed, verbal fluency, new learning capacity and solving problems at a deeper level while being less impulsive and better focused.  By giving the brain more intensity, for a specific period of  time, we are able to maximise the possible benefit for each individual.

 

The commitment would be for weekly group fitness sessions of 1.5 hours in duration and a home based follow up program.  Remember intensity is the key to optimizing brain function.

 

Our thorough assessment procedure will be able to individualise each program and provide feedback of change.

 

 

 

 

Phonemic Training for the Improvement of Reading

and Spelling .....

 

The LiPS Program assists the development of an oral-motor, visual and auditory feedback system that

enables all students to improve the identity, number and order of phonemes in syllables and words. 

It is more basic and more extensive than traditional phonics programs.

 

It accelerates the grasp of English letter combinations for reading and spelling, and accomplishes their application in a much shorter time than traditional phonic programs alone.

 

An initial assessment of reading, spelling and writing ability includes a visual and auditory processing screening test.   

 

Educational Solutions ....

 

Is your child falling behind their classmates at school?

Do they struggle with certain areas and need some extra attention to bridge the gap?

Do they lack confidence in the classroom?

 

A Blue Horizon remedial program is designed to help children with academic difficulties.

It is ideal for those having completed the Tomatis based Auditory Stimulation program and require catch up sessions in which they are able to put  together all the pieces of the learning puzzle in literacy and numeracy.

Detailed assessments help to plan a remedial program for: 

 

*     Reading decoding            *          Comprehension

*     Mathematics                      *          Reading

*     Handwriting                       *          Writing

*     Spelling

A one to one learning environment can assist those who have a diagnosed disorder such as specific learning difficulty, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, or are struggling to keep up at school.

 

 

 

 

Talk Series ....

 

Our clinic is dedicated to creating forums where parents, teachers and other educational and health practitioners are able to extend their knowledge in the area of learning difficulties, especially the role the auditory system plays in the enhancement and impedance of innate potential.

We are able to discuss issues such as :

*    Building a relevant toolkit of strategies

*    Home based strategies

*    The range of implications for an Auditory Processing disorder

*    How reachers can modify teaching programs and environments

*    Effective modifications to speech for maximum impact and comprehension.

 

 

Movement Programs ....

  

We offer effective non-drug methods to promote optimum neurological functioning and learning.

Touch, movement, wellbeing and balance are the foundations for learning.  A main cause of learning difficulties is the brain’s poor response to touch, hearing, vision, movement and balance receptors.  If the brain cannot interpret this huge sensory input, it becomes congested, something like a traffic jam. 

Our programs help families to sort out issues around:

* Perplexing behaviours

* Language delays

* Organisational difficulties

* Work efficiency

* Sleep disorders 

* Social interactions

* Learning difficulties

 

 

 

 

Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) ....

 

 

Rhythmic movements are simple and gentle rocking and rolling actions that stimulate the neural pathways, making connections that promote balance, equilibrium and learning.

 

RMT encourages your body to return to wellbeing through healing rhythmic movements.  These actions are capable of taking us into our very own presence.

When we move, complex and sophisticated pathways in our brains are activated that draw on qualities we need to live a life of fullness.  The qualities of balance, orientation, co-ordination and even motivation are

triggered and brought into sync.

 

 

Here at Blue Horizon we conduct one hour therapeutic sessions with 2—3 weeks of home practice in between.  Music that is designed to support movement training may be recommended.