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What is AIT/DAA?

Auditory Integration Training (AIT) - Digital Auditory Aerobics (DAA) is an educational intervention. AIT/DAA consists of 10 hours (20 sessions) within a two-week period, under the supervision of professionally trained AIT/DAA Providers who follow a protocol developed by Dr. Guy Berard.

The ten days of AIT/DAA training is designed to remediate impairments in auditory discrimination in children and adults with hyperacute hearing and auditory processing problems. The training consists of filtered and randomly modulated music heard through headphones for 1/2-hour, twice a day, for a total of ten days. Side effects, if any, are temporary, and beneficial results continue to cumulate over a three- to six-month period. The training may be repeated yearly if any regression is noticed. AIT/DAA is categorized by the FDA as an educational intervention, and may not be covered by insurance.

Measurable Results

Audiograms screen clients who may benefit from AIT/DAA and document results - before training, at the midpoint, and after training. Audiograms are also used for settings that tailor the training specifically for each client.

Effectiveness

Independent research studies validate the effectiveness of auditory training. AIT/DAA training strengthens the small muscles of the middle ear and establishes new neural pathways in the brain, enabling the client to listen and process sounds more normally.

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Berard AIT/DAA Protocol

Auditory Training

AIT/DAA is safe and effective auditory training that retrains a disorganized auditory system and improves hearing distortions and sound sensitivity. AIT/DAA has been proven highly successful for clients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), learning disabilities including attention deficit disorder (ADD), central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), hypersensitive hearing, and other auditory related problems.

Safe, Scientific Protocol

AIT is an educational intervention used and developed by Dr. Guy Berard. Auditory Integration Training is based on a scientific protocol and has more than 30 years of proven results. Over 20 independent research studies document the efficacy of AIT, including for clients with autism. The decibel levels used during the music training sessions are always kept at a safe level to protect hearing function and improve auditory processing.

Ten Hours of Auditory Training

Clients listen through high-quality head phones to modulated music from an AIT/DAA device for 20 sessions of 30 minutes each, for a total of 10 hours of auditory training within a two-week period. An approved device and specifically filtered and modulated music in accordance with the AIT/DAA protocol must be used to ensure that effective results can be achieved.

Supervised Sessions

AIT/DAA Sessions are provided under the supervision of therapists and other trained professionals or certified AIT/DAA Providers. The minimum recommended age for AIT/DAA is 3 years old and there is no maximum age. Both children and adults with various types of auditory processing problems, including hyperacute or hypersensitive hearing can benefit tremendously from AIT/DAA.

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AIT/DAA Benefits

Auditory Integration Training - Digital Auditory Aerobics is a sound and music training that consists of randomly modulated and filtered music played through headphones for half an hour, twice a day, for ten days. The FDA permits the following statement regarding AIT: Auditory Integration Training remediates impairments in auditory discrimination (sound sensitivity and auditory distortion) associated with autism, learning disabilities, and related disorders � Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD), and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).

Results from AIT/DAA typically reported in children include improvements in socialization skills, expressive language, sleeping, and academic performance, and a reduction in the need for medication. Correspondingly, adults report decreased tension levels, reduced depression, and increased ability to focus and concentrate.

The AIT/DAA protocol, an intensive language and hearing training, addresses impairments in auditory discrimination or abnormal auditory perception associated with disorders characterized by problems with hearing and sensory integration.

Children and adults with learning difficulty, attention deficit disorder, auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, autism and pervasive developmental delay have benefited from AIT/DAA. An estimated 20% of the population suffers from distortions in hearing or sensitivity to certain sounds which can contribute to inappropriate anti-social behavior, irritability, lethargy, impulsivity, restlessness, high tension levels and problems with language and reading. Improvements reported after receiving AIT/DAA include more appropriate affect, expression and interaction, better articulation and auditory comprehension and an overall increase in academic and social skills.

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Success Stories

Listen and Learn, LLC Testimonial

Garrett's two weeks of AIT with Seth Torbert began on July 26, 2010. Here are some of the immediate benefits I have noticed as a result:

The first immediate benefit was that Garrett appeared more focused on conversations around him. He didn't seem to be in his own little world as much. He was attending to the conversations of others around him.

Then, Garrett's sequencing of an event improved. The following conversation took place on August 3 as we were discussing how much our family dog, a toy poodle, was going to miss Seth, because Seth was spending a lot of time petting Shadow during therapy:

"Shadow just wants Seth to be here," Garrett said.

"Why?"

"Cause Seth pets him."

"Shadow will miss Seth when he's not coming here anymore. We'll have to have Seth come over just to visit."

"Shadow likes it when people pet him. But he doesn't like everyone."

"Yeah, buddy, he pretty much does. He can't always tell when people are good people or bad people."

"Like "

"Wow. What do you mean?"

Well, she's nice on the outside. Like Lotso [from "Toy Story 3"]. He smells like strawberries and is all nice and huggy on the outside. But he's a monster on the inside. She's like that."

Unfortunately, Garrett refuses to independently report this person's abuse of him to teachers and therapists, because, he says, he is too embarrassed. However, he can articulate his embarrassment to me, whereas before, he would not have been able to explain why he couldn't tell.

On August 4, in the car, I told my husband that he shouldn't give our dog his wet dog food because I'd already given the dog some eggs, and Garrett chimed in, "Yeah, and we already fed him his regular dog food, too." This is huge. Garrett followed the adult conversation from the backseat and added his part (that he helped feed the dog, one of his chores), on his own. Before AIT, Garrett would have been in his own little world in the backseat, not listening to us (or listening, but not attending). He might have even been making rude noises instead of joining in the conversation.

As of August 6, Garrett can now follow three- and four-part simple instructions, whereas before he could only regularly follow two-part instructions. In addition, he can be sent on a helpful errand; i.e., "Go find Nana's cellphone" and successfully complete the errand without becoming sidetracked.

I recently asked him to put the dog in my bedroom before company came to visit, and he responded, "Command received." When the doorbell rang a minute later, he picked the dog up and put him on my bed, then shut the door so the dog couldn't get out! Before AIT, Garrett would have ignored me, and the dog would have run out the door and down the street or bothered the visitors (with love, of course!).

I have also noticed a huge increase in an interest in all forms of music the past two weeks. Garrett has been playing with the piano, electronic keyboard, harmonica, recorder, and all his little play percussion instruments a lot more than usual and has been singing more, as well. He has been turning on the radio in his room more, as well. I will be looking into getting piano lessons for him soon.

I expect Garrett's articulation and comprehension to improve over the weeks and months to come and highly recommend AIT to anyone struggling with auditory processing disorder.

Sue M

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