The children ranged in age from 5 months to 8 years with an average age of 2 years. The children were referred for therapy because of severe feeding and pre-speech problems. This structure of music has also been shown to increase the learning of verbal materials and enhance their retention. It is also probable that the regular rhythm and specific tempo of this music contributes to a greater symmetry of function of the two hemispheres of the brain. Largo and adagio movements from baroque composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, Albinoni and Correlli were selected for the therapy program.
Most children become calmer and less distractible during the therapy sessions.
Several showed a more normal response to touch and an increased ability to organize sensory information. The improved reactions were noted during the therapy period. There appeared to be minimal carryover of the improved sensory organization. Because of the positive response to this type of nonverbal auditory facilitation of learning, a comparison of the child's response to music alone and music containing Hemi-Sync signals was begun. In the initial phases of the program, the Metamusic series had not yet been produced.