We finally took my 4 year old grandson, Drake, for his hearing evaluation last week. We ended up with good and bad news. Hearing tests are interesting because there are different things that can be measured. Drake has "normal" hearing by the standards measured on a regular hearing test. Problem? One of the issues with autistic kids is that their hearing may be too good. The idea was to check him, by the use of headphones, for a wide range of frequencies in each ear with the goal of determining in which frequencies he was hearing too well. This can often be determined by how the child reacts to the different frequencies. (registering pain, screaming, etc.) Once the bothersome frequencies are identified, a 10 day program of desensitization is planned with the use, again, of headphones. The child listens to his/her identified frequencies along with others to retrain the brain to get used to them. In Drake's case, when he heard frequencies that did not bother him, he likened the tones to pleasant animal sounds. But when he heard ones that were painful, he ripped the headphones off yelling that he couldn't do it. He would then protect his ears by covering them up so we couldn't get the headphones back on him. After a few attempts, we realized that this was not going to work. The goods news is that we learned he is sensitive to some frequencies. The bad news is that the treatment involves the use of listening to sounds that would be unpleasant to him through headphones. The doc we went to gave me phone numbers and email address for the author of the book, Sound of a Miracle , so I could contact her to see if she has any suggestions. She is currently out of the country, but I will contact her when she is back. It is frustrating to know that we have identified that there is an issue here, but Drake won't tolerate the treatment. In the book, they did mention that it could be hard with younger kids. But, if you have a child who is older, and covers his/her ears up a lot to block out noises that he/she finds intolerable even though you barely noticed them, read the book and seek the treatment! It could be the miracle for you that it was for the author and her daughter. Her daughter was VERY SEVERE, and was not treated until she was in her early teens. She graduated at the top of her class from college.

Sound of a Miracle is an excellent book!

Hi Curious Nana,

I've just bumped up our "Books you liked" thread started by Garnet. Would you and/or 9CatMom add a short entry for SOAM? Thanks!

This is one I'll have to get ahold of.

Best wishes.

Dr Berard - the guy who invented AIT- has said that for autistics there is no need for a frequency test because there is no need for filters. He also says that the music shouldn't be played at a level that is going to cause the child discomfort. You may want to look for a different dr that follows the Berard protocol. Berard also warns against pracitioners that aren't certified in his program. He has his own website that explains it all.

We're schedlued to go to AIT in early June.

Thanks for your input! We will certainly follow up on that!

Dr. Guy Berard developed the treatment known as AIT to retrain his own hearing because he was going deaf. I found it really fascinating how this treatment can help people with autism and other difficulties.

SherriEleanor, How old is your child? Have you checked out the book?

E just turned 5. I haven't looked at his book.

Just today E refused to go outside because she didn't like the sound of the air conditioner. I can't wait for this program!! Normally in the summer we can't go outside because of the locusts.

I just got one of Stehli's other books called Sound of Falling Snow . It is subtitled "Stories of Recovery from Autism and Related Conditions." I have so much faith in this program to bring about significant differences in behavior. I think that there are SO MANY people, not even considered on the spectrum, that have hearing sensitivities that influence their lives in significant ways. I remember reading about the connection between getting help with the hearing and seeing dramatic changes in other sensory issues like taste and touch. Being a big dreamer and an educator, I would love to see this kind of hearing screening become a part of the mandatory evaluations that kids have to go through before entering school. Now there's a concept.....why not do something that could have far reaching positive effects rather than some that we suspect do damage?????

I'll be so anxious to see how things go with your daughter!

I agree, Curious Nana. That would be a great idea. I read a book called, "Dancing In the Rain." I would like to read this new book too.