How the Ear Works 

 

The pinna collects sound and it travels through the auditory canal where the eardrum (tympanic membrane) bounces the sounds off the membrane of the drum vibrating with the sound and propagating the vibrations to the middle ear. Behind the eardrum is the region which houses the three tiniest bones in the body the malleus (or hammer), the incus (or anvil) and the stapes (or stirrup) and the two tiniest muscles attached to two of them: the tensor tympani (attached to the malleus) and the stapedius (attached to the stapes). The job of the three bones of the middle ear (also called ossicles) is to transmit the vibrations of sound from the eardrum across the three bones and into the inner ear.

When the eardrum stretches with an incoming sound, the hammer bone receives the vibration, transmits it to the anvil, and then to the stirrup, which sets the stimulation of the inner ear in motion for the processing of sound.

The tiny ear muscles have a large role to play in the middle ear as they act like gate keepers. They let in sounds that are good and keep out sounds that are harmful. If a sound is too soft, the tensor tympani muscle pulls on the hammer bones so that the eardrum tightens raising the amplitude of the incoming sounds so they can be heard. The stapedius muscle acts to move the stirrup bone so as to let the incoming sound through to the inner ear for processing. It regulates the pressure of the fluids inside the cochlea.

The inner ear is responsible for two functions. The hearing function, also known as the auditory system, performed by the cochlea (see Auditory Processing Disorder) and the balance function performed by the semicircular canals, utricle and saccule, also referred to as the vestibular system (see Sensory Integration Dysfunction).

Auditory training tones up these middle ear muscles to make them stronger. When they are stronger they are better filters. That way they can pull on the ear drum efficiently and effectively and bring in the sounds you need and keep out the sounds you don’t need.

Auditory Processing Disorder          

When your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you that are taken in by the ear and processed efficiently and effectively, auditory processing is unhampered. The vibrations are changed to electrical impulses and the information isn't altered, skewed or inhibited. Normal auditory processing results as the brain is able to take that information, interpret it, process it and respond to it in a meaningful way.
However, if auditory processing is hindered in any way, due to a variety of reasons there is a breakdown in the normal transformation and exchange of auditory information resulting in an Auditory Processing Disorder .

Does this sound like your child?

 Needs to have directions repeated
 Has poor auditory sequential memory
 Misunderstands spoken information, directions or questions
 Is easily distracted by background noise
 Finds sounds uncomfortable or even painful (holds ears a lot)
 Has trouble with auditory discrimination skills
 Has difficulty paying attention
 Has difficulty reading
 Difficulties with spelling
 Difficulty with speaking skills
 Frequently asks "huh"? or "what"?
 Balance and coordination issues
 Poor posture
 Poor voice quality
 Is unorganized and/or forgetful

The Ear-Brain Connection

When auditory processing is distorted or disrupted in some way, there can be adverse effects on the interpretation of auditory information, which diminishes the brain's ability to understand and organize the messages being sent. For the population with autism, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, this can cause behavioral problems, social and emotional problems, academic problems and even shut-down mode.

How is the Brain Impacted With Auditory Training?

The brain has what's called plasticity – it can change and learn new things – at any age. Learning is the mere process of having the brain change and lay down new neural connections. In auditory training, we can improve auditory processing as the brain changes and learns new things through stimulation of modulated music (in this case, Mozart). To be effective, the protocol is administered in sessions each day with a mandatory 2 day break, with enough strength to render it therapeutic, and with a determined amount of weeks to follow to give the brain its due time to acclimate and assimilate the sonic information.

Auditory training can hone a child's attention and auditory processing making them process auditory information without distortions, without delays, and without drugs.

Signs of Sensory Integration Dysfunction

The Vestibular System

The balance function in the inner ear also referred to as the vestibular system houses the three semicircular canals (which are responsible for sensing movement on angular levels) and both the utricle and saccule (involved in sensing linear movement). The vestibular system works in respect to gravitational pull, our upright position and our sense of motion and spatial orientation.

Since the vestibule controls the muscles of the body and body posture, the cochlea relies on the vestibule to maintain the body in an optimal position conducive to receiving sound and processing it effectively. When this happens, good listening is achieved; anything else sets a child up for a listening problem.
In a nutshell, sensory integration is the way our body takes in, sorts out and responds to information. It's a basic neurological function that begins in-utero and forms the basis of how our body will respond to the outside world once we are born. Our neurological system takes in information from all of our senses and responds to it based on how it receives the information. If we are wired efficiently and effectively, most of us respond to sensory information without too much difficulty. Normal development occurs through an adaptive response to sensory information. Our ears relay all sensory information to the brain. Our system is wired to respond to every piece of information which comes from the five senses with which everyone is most familiar:

• Tactile: (touch); perceive and discriminate touch, pain, and temperature.
• Auditory: (hearing); perceive and discriminate sound.
• Oral: (taste): perceive and discriminate flavors and food textures
• Olfactory: (smell): perceive and discriminate odors.
• Visual: (sight): perceive and discriminate what we see.

Two lesser known senses yet very important still are:

• Proprioceptive unconscious information from the muscles, ligaments and joints, weight, pressure, stretch and changes in movement.
• Vestibular: unconscious information from the inner ear about our movement and position in space

No one is well-regulated all the time, so everyone has some sensory issues at some time or another. However, the child with sensory processing dysfunction has extreme deficits and difficulties integrating sensory information on a continuous basis. When a child's body is not wired properly, he does not adapt according. The child can show extreme behaviors of either hyper or hyposensitivity (and a combination of both) in any of the above senses, whichever way they have been wired. For example, if a child with hypersensitivities to touch is bothered by the label in their shirt, the sensory information that gets processed by the brain may be the equivalent of a knife stabbing them in the back and an all-out tantrum ensues – just because of a label! Heightened awareness to the sensory information leads to the brain reacting in a heightened manner provoking a fight or flight response.

Conversely, some children are at the other end of the tactile spectrum and are hypo-reactive to touch. They are under-reactive to sensory information. They may fall down and cut their knee but they are unaware and never cry. The information from the skin breaking never made its way to the brain for a response at the time of the event or made it too late. They may not know they've cut themselves until someone brings it to their attention. They may not cry when they get a shot, being so under-reactive to pain (that's a tell-tale sign of sensory integration dysfunction).

Auditory training can help get the body back in-sync, back in tune with itself. Speech and language, even focus, attention and memory can't be improved in a child full of sensory integration issues until their body is grounded, better regulated, and they have a sense of who they are and what their body can do.

Signs of a Listening Problem

We cannot “see” listening. The only way to “get at it” is indirectly – through skills that are related to it in one way or another.

This checklist offers a catalog of abilities, skills or qualities that will enable you to assess whether you or your child has a listening problem.

Developmental History

This knowledge is extremely important in early identification and prevention of listening problems. It also sheds light on the possible causes.
a stressful pregnancy.
difficult birth.
adoption.
early separation from the mother.
delay in motor development.
recurring ear infections

Receptive Listening

This is the listening that is directed outward. It keeps us attuned to the world around us, to what’s going on at home, at work or in the classroom.
short attention span.
distractibility.
oversensitivity to sounds.
misinterpretation of questions.
confusion of similar sounding words.
frequent need of repetition.
inability to follow sequential instructions

Motor Skills

The ear of the body, which controls balance, co-ordination and body image, also needs close attention.
poor posture.
fidgety behavior.
clumsy, uncoordinated movement.
poor sense of rhythm.
messy handwriting.
hard time with organization, structure

The Level of Energy

The ear acts as a dynamo, providing us with the energy we need to survive and lead fulfilling lives.
difficulty getting up.
tiredness at the end of the day.
habit of procrastinating.
hyperactivity.
tendency toward depression.
feeling overburdened with everyday tasks

Expressive Listening

This is listening that is directed within. We use it to control our voice when we speak and sing.
flat and monotonous voice.
hesitant speech. weak vocabulary.
poor sentence structure.
overuse of stereotyped expressions.
inability to sing in tune.
confusion or reversal of letters.
poor reading comprehension.
poor reading aloud.
poor spelling

Behavioral and Social Adjustment

A listening difficulty is often related to these:
low tolerance or frustration.
poor self-confidence.
poor self-image.
shyness.
difficulty making friends.

Listening Checklist adapted from Appendix B, When Listening Comes Alive, Paul Madaule, Norval , Ontario , Moulin Publishing, 1993, pp 191-192.

If you or your child has any of these characteristics of a poor listener, you are not living up to your potential. Sound Therapy Systems can help you.

Signs of Autism

 

Here are some signs to look for if you suspect your child has autism or are looking for answers as to why they have communication problems, social deficits and behavioral issues. It just may be an autism spectrum disorder. (excerpted from the Autism Society of America). Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. They may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Their communication is often described as talking at others instead of to them. (For example, a monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments). People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present.

Autism in Babies: What Parents Should Be on the Lookout for: (excerpted from ivillage.com) Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by one year of age Does not speak one word by sixteen months Does not combine two words by two years of age Does not respond to his or her name Loses language or social skills Avoids eye contact Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys Excessively lines up toys or other objects Is attached to one particular toy or object

Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits:

• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
• Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
• Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
• Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason
• Preference to being alone; aloof manner
• Tantrums
• Difficulty in mixing with others
• Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
• Little or no eye contact
• Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
• Sustained odd play
• Spinning objects
• Obsessive attachment to objects
• Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
• No real fears of danger
• Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
• Uneven gross/fine motor skills
• Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

If you suspect autism in your child, see a neurodevelopmental pediatrician or developmental specialist. Autism can be treated! Learn more about how Lollipop Listening Therapy® works and what it can do for your child.