http://www.integratedlistening.com/

The Integrated Listening System (iLs) is a brain education and development tool designed for home use. Developed by Doctor Ron Minson, iLs is the latest advancement in the field of sound therapy that originated with the work of Dr Tomatis in the 1950’s (developer of the Tomatis method).

Our ears, our eyes and inner ear (balance) interact with each other to make a cohesive whole experience. This communication between these senses must be coordinated smoothly and efficiently, and are vital to our ability to learn, pay attention, process information, and coordinate movement.

As these senses are interrelated; “exercising” them simultaneously enables us to become better at integrating multi-sensory information. Through repeated, gentle stimulation, it re-trains the brain to become more efficient and effective by strengthening neural connections.

The equipment consists of specially made bone conduction headphones, a standard iPod, and a small amplifier. The whole kit can be worn and carried quite comfortably. ILS is a powerful tool on its own, or as preliminary work to neurofeedback sessions.

iLs Applications

Hemispheric Integration

The brain utilizes multiple areas simultaneously for any one task – reading being a good example. Brain areas from front to back and from left to right are simultaneously involved in this activity. This requires precise, rapid and clear communication within and between hemispheres.
Enhanced Skills: Improved hemispheric integration applies to almost everything the brain does.

Auditory

Listening in a noisy classroom and speaking clearly require efficient processing and storage of information. ILS processes specific music to train the brain to analyze and process sound more quickly and accurately.
Enhances: pitch discrimination, auditory processing, reading, mood, concentration and balance.

Visual Motor

Orienting to the source of a sound uses the relationship between the balance, auditory and visual systems. The simultaneous exercising of these skills with vestibular, balance and auditory training benefits reading and motor skills acquisition.
Enhances: reading, hand/eye coordination, balance, sports.

Coordination

The sense of one’s own body position, movement, and control – come from receptors in our joints and muscles called proprioception. When this system in integrated with the other sensory systems the brain is freed up to focus on more complex tasks. The movement program focuses on building proprioceptive abilities with specific exercises in each session.
Enhanced Skills: motor planning, athletics, coordination, awareness of personal space, confidence, regulation.

Bone conduction

We hear sounds both through air conduction and bone conduction. Bone conduction is closely linked with vestibular function. The ILS headphones use a bone conduction system built directly into the ILS headphones, accessing this system directly.

Frequency Filtration

Those who can hear more of the sound spectrum have an advantage in learning. The ILS programs employ gradually increasing filtration levels, training parts of the auditory spectrum to improve learning-related abilities such as pitch discrimination (selectivity), sound decoding, and auditory memory.

Gating

The muscles of the inner ear have the job of screening out unwanted sounds. ILS gating separates music into 2 channels, alternating (or “gating”) them. This causes the muscles in the middle ear to continuously flex. As the muscles become stronger so does our ability for focused listening and paying attention.

Vestibular

The vestibular system is directly connected to the inner ear. It controls our balance, coordination, muscle tone, rhythm, movement and posture. Different types of vestibular stimulation are achieved through movement, balance board activities and the bone conduction system built directly into the ILS headphones. Vestibular activity has a strong impact on attention and emotional regulation.  Once these are functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and functional language.
Enhances: coordination, balance, focus, self-regulation.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons.  In computer terms, it’s our processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity.  Specific training of the visual, vestibular and auditory systems cause the cerebellum to become more efficient at processing information.
Enhanced Skills: control of motor movement; “automaticity” (motor activities becoming automatic); acquisition of new skills; visual motor control and cognitive skills.

· The test group gained on the average two grade levels in reading fluency and comprehension.

· Reading comprehension: The test group were able to respond correctly, on average, to 90% of the reading comprehension questions, as opposed to 25% among their control group peers.

· Reading accuracy. The test group made one-third the number of miscues in decoding in comparison to their control group peers.

· Reading fluency. Test group students read at twice the rate of their control group peers.

· Receptive vocabulary and cognitive skills: Statistically significant gains in receptive vocabulary and cognitive skills, according to a standardized measure, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test.

· Retelling ability: The test group could recall seven times more specific story-related information than their control group peers.