A youngster who acts out on a regular basis for no apparent cause may be suffering from Sensory Processing Disorder. SPD is described as the inability to utilise sensory information in order to operate appropriately in everyday life. It has both a physiological and psychological foundation, and it can be triggered by early childhood trauma.

SPD is widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed, despite its prevalence among children that come from harsh backgrounds. In fact, it is frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD or autism, but recent studies show that SPD is far more common in children than autism and as common as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, SPD receives significantly less attention, in part because it has never been classified as a distinct disorder yet as a symptom of autism, motor delays, balance and coordination problems, ADD, ADHD and other developmental issues in children. Sensory integration issues might show as distractibility, impulsivity, lash out, or meltdown. However, by knowing more about SPD and how to manage it, parents may assist their children in having successful outcomes.

What Is Sensory Listening?

Therapeutic listening or sensory listening is a sound-based technique that was created to help people of all ages who struggle with sensory processing. It stimulates the auditory system through the use of specially modified music. This music is intended to stimulate the nervous system as well as the parts of the brain responsible for listening and processing sensory information. Therapeutic listening differs from other listening-based therapies in that it focuses on the auditory system’s brain connections that allow it to reach the nerve system and impact changes throughout the body.

Our hearing organ, the cochlea, is a portion of the ear that responds to minute vibrations and variations in sound waves. The vestibular system of the ear detects head movement in space. It is thought to be the organizer of our five senses. It is our internal ear, which allows us to comprehend time and place from the perspective of our body. Muscle tone, posture, balance, coordination, integration of the two body sides, visual-spatial skills, emotional reactions, and motor planning are all influenced by it.

Its purpose is to improve the precision of sensory information supplied from the ear’s vestibular-cochlear system to the nerve system’s numerous connections. This strategy is based on all of the scientific research on sensory-motor integration as a CNS organizer for meaningful function. The presence of music connects brainstem and limbic system integration together, resulting in more structured and functional behaviour.

What Equipment Is Needed for This Type of Therapy?

This listening therapy includes acquiring and using headphones throughout the whole process. The headphones must have a 150 Ohm Impedance and a sensitivity/frequency range of 22,000 or 23,000 HZ and meet the ANSI S3.19 and EN325 hearing protection standards. Lower frequency headphones with lower ranges will be unable to pick up the actual high-frequency sounds that are the most beneficial component of brain stimulation in order to improve the brain’s sensitivity.

Most headphones on the market, even the nicer ones, have a frequency range of approximately 10-11,000, which means your child will only hear half of what is supposed to assist them. Buying a suggested pair of sensory listening instruments is a simple method to solve this problem. The sensory listening tools you can order online can stimulate the vestibular and auditory systems concurrently, and thanks to their sturdy construction and immersive acoustics, they’re suitable for both children and adults.

Benefits of Sensory Listening

Sensory music therapy, unlike some other types of treatment for mood disorders and comparable problems, is non-invasive and may be highly pleasurable for the patient. Because the great majority of individuals like music in some way, including it in therapy sessions and as part of a sensory room can help them relax and speak more effectively. But, other than that, sensory listening can provide a lot more benefits for a child who suffers from SPD.

Some SPD children may be obese, underweight, or even average weight, but they all appear to have nutritional inadequacies owing to a lack of dietary options. Eating is a multisensory experience that includes food with a variety of appearances, scents, textures, and tastes, as well as other people who contribute to the mealtime discussion and hearing senses. SPD can cause symptoms that are comparable to eating disorders when an individual’s ability to tolerate particular meals is affected. Long meal durations combined with a modest appetite can lead to inadequate nutrition and severe weight loss. As the brain tries to integrate sensory instructions related to food taste, sight, and scents, a significant distaste of meals owing to texture, odour, or flavour might develop. Therapeutic Listening impacts kids’ nervous systems in many ways and regulating your kid’s appetite is one of them.

Children who have sensory integration issues are more likely to have trouble settling, remaining asleep, and sleeping soundly. Sleep deprivation has a severe influence not only on the kid but also on the entire family. If sleep problems aren’t addressed, they might lead to problems later in life, such as bad conduct, poor self-control, and despair. Because music (usually peaceful music) functions as a mental diversion that helps us relax, sound and sleep are nearly synonymous. As a result, it’s probable that listening to music will help your kid fall asleep faster. Other areas that your child can benefit from sensory listening in are better attention, focus, balance and coordination, better communication, articulation and improved social skills.

Your child could even benefit from playtime and implementing adequate toys for proper development. Sensory toys assist autistic children to relax, focus and quiet down in response to a scenario or occurrence. It allows children to hold items with less effort and discomfort, allowing them to play more naturally. Sensory toys also aid in the development of social learning abilities like bargaining, planning, and sharing. Sensory toys are becoming increasingly popular as a way to aid youngsters with autism. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each appealing to one or more of the senses. As these toys can help youngsters focus, calm down, and relax, they are not a substitute for official, evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorders and SPD. Finally, sensory toys are intended to provide a fun way for a youngster to learn more about their senses, as they’ll have a better understanding of their sensations and how to control them via play.

Also, keep in mind that therapy sessions are merely a starting point for work you and your kid will accomplish at home. Help your kid comprehend and communicate his sensory experiences in a meaningful language in between sessions with a therapist. And the most important part of the journey is to remain optimistic, as every child who suffers from Sensory Processing Disorder has hope.