Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism
Date:         Wed, 6 Jan 1993 09:40:26 EST
              <AUTISM@SJUVM.BITNET>
From:         Lisa S Lewis <LISAS@PUCC.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Auditory Integration Training
              5 Jan 1993 12:55:53 -0600 from <HUGGINS@MERLIN.NLU.EDU>

Lynda,
Thanks for your lengthy and thoughtful reply to all my questions.  Last
night I went through my files and dug out the reports I have so far
on the Edelson study.

I still have a few questions though...

First, I found an article by Edelson that referred to the 1991 study in Oregon
but it didn't mention the Clark machine. According to the June, 1992
article the Berard training was used on the experimental subjects, and the
controls listened to music that wasn't filtered in any way. I also found an
interview with him in The Advocate,but it didn't address the two machines eithe
r.

Some other articles (by Rimland and Rimland and Edelson) primarily
compare the Berard with the Tomatis method. (They definitely recommend
Berard over Tomatis for autistic children.)

Something else I'm wondering about. You said that some sounds that were
troublesome before AIT are now funny to Jon. E.g.:

>   He used to cover his ears and say "turn it off" when his Choir teacher
>   rewound a tape recorder used to record class practice.  After AIT, Jon
>   thought the high pitched screech of the rewinding tape was hilarious.
>
While it's wonderful if previously painful sounds no longer cause discomfort,
this sounds like it's been replaced with a different kind of (typically)
autistic behavior---inappropriate laughter.  I mean, it's hard to understand
the humor in the sound of a tape rewind, and yet, that's the kind of thing
that many autistic children do laugh at.

Comments on this?

The rest of what you describe does sound like wonderful gains.
>
>
>   I do not believe that the Stehli's, Georgie, or Dr. Edelson are
>   suggesting that AIT is a miracle "cure".  They would never suggest
>   that behavior modification, structured educational programs, or
>   the various therapies are not also needed.  AIT will not help
>   everyone (or possibly anyone) to the extent it helped Georgie.
>   She is that one in a million.  Dr. Edelson is trying to determine
>   who it will help and to what extent.  Will it help only persons with
>   sound sensitivities?  Is one age better than another?  Do girls
>   benefit more?  Lots of questions that only time and research will
>   answer.
>
Well, in the afterward of Stehli's book, Rimland says that he asked Peter
Stehli what percentage of Georgie's improvement could be attributed to
AIT.  He says he expected Stehli to say 30-40%, but that Stehli said "100%".

I still urge everyone to go back and reread the book, at least the last half.

>   I went to Oregon hoping that if nothing else, AIT might increase Jon's
>   attention span and better enable him to learn.  I would do it again,
>   and in fact, Jon is scheduled to receive the Berard-type training next
>   month.  There are currently eight local families contracting for AIT
>   here. No miracles are promised.
>
You don't mention whether the training caused Jon discomfort.  Did some of
it hurt his ears?  Did he have trouble sitting through it?

>   When we traveled to Oregon in 1991, Dr. Edelson was the only person
>   in the U.S. offering Auditory Integration Training.  There are now
>   over 120 trained practitioners.  The Stehli's bring Dr. Berard to
>   this country several times each year to train people in the use of
>   his equipment.  I have a current list of practitioners if anyone is
>   interested in where AIT might be available near them.

The Georgiana Foundation in Westport, CT maintains a current listing.  I know
that in our immediate area (within 50 minutes) there are three places pro-
viding the training. I also know that each has a waiting list a mile long.

Parents should also be warned that many of the places setting up AIT are in
it strictly for the money.  (The approx. $10K investment pays off rather
quickly, since AIT is being touted for all kinds of learning disabilities
as well as autism, and since most places are charging about $1300 and can
do several children a day.) We had a really bad experience with a place in
Netcong, NJ last summer.  Clearly they cared only about the money. It was very
upsetting.

>   to promote a professional image.  Objectives include:  promote
>   professional and ethical standards for AIT; set procedural standards;
>   promote networking and sharing of information; advise and evaluate
>   research on the efficacy of AIT.
>
I think it's great that Edelson is setting up SAIT for the above purposes.
Studies of the efficacy are badly needed. If its value can be shown in
scientfically valid experiments, there will be less resistence from doctors,
health insurance companies, school systems, etc.

As I said, we will probably be doing this training over the summer. If it
does nothing more than decrease Sam's sensitivity to sound, we'll be happy.
Anything else that comes of it (such as increase in calmness) will be gravy.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU