Sound therapy has essential benefits for autism spectrum disorder. Children with autism are expected to gain the most from these early therapies since their brains are more wired to learn and respond to stimuli.
Thanks to my youngest daughter for enlightening me on this subject. Imani is a Special ED teacher in the New York school system, who works with Kindergarten through 2nd graders. She is doing an amazing job introducing her students to holistic methods, such as sound healing.
The Benefits of Sound Therapy
For people diagnosed with various developmental abnormalities, including autism spectrum disorders, sound therapy was developed as a means of enhancing aberrant sensitivity to sound. This treatment is believed to alleviate some of the sensory-processing-based sensitivities that people encounter
Three Different Approaches to Sound Treatment
There are three primary categories of sound treatment programs, and they are all similar in that they are:
- Therapy Through Auditory Integration
- The Tomatis Approach
- Samonas Sound Healing
Guy Berard created audio integration therapy, popularly referred to as Berard’s approach, in France in 1982. He postulated that people who are sensitive to different sound frequencies or who are not sensitive to any sound frequency may be at risk for developing a variety of behavioral disorders and learning disabilities.
Among sound therapies is auditory integration training, which entails a listening regimen consisting of ten hours of electronically adjusted music meant to be listened to through headphones. High-frequency sounds are also attenuated to prevent the person with hearing sensitivity from experiencing adverse effects. This takes place in two 30-minute sessions spread over ten days, and these sessions may improve abnormal sound sensitivity.
Dr. Alfred Tomatis invented the Tomatis Sound Therapy, which produces auditory input by passing music and an electronically modified human voice through a gadget known as the “Electronic Ear.” Each patient’s listening regimen is unique.
In contrast to other sound therapies, the Tomatis Sound Therapy, also known as the Tomatis method, is customized. It fluctuates according to the various schedule gaps between the various designated treatment blocks.
Steinbach developed the Samonas Sound Therapy, drawing in part from the research of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, whose work appears to have specific fundamental characteristics with the Tomatis approach. It uses a headgear that plays recorded CDs containing filtered music, ambient sounds, and human voices. The Samonas approach can also be applied in the child’s home if it is the therapist’s preference and the therapy goals are clear.
Sound Treatment for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders)
There are disparate cognitive frameworks regarding the many kinds of sound treatment programs. The fact that a sound therapy program does not appear to be as successful as other therapies for autism does not help either, according to the trials reported in the article Auditory Integration Training (AIT) and other sound therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), possibly though the results do not seem to be conclusive, further experiments and tests are being conducted in the hopes that they may be more effective or perhaps measure different results.
With a headset that plays music at varying frequencies and noises for varying amounts of time, all three types of AIT employ a kind of sensory integration primarily focused on auditory processing. This auditory integration therapy enhances concentration as auditory abnormalities are improved.
Every technique claims the same advantages and outcomes despite variations in the therapist’s interactions within the program, the length and intensity of each session, and how each is tailored to the patient. These techniques have been used with a variety of developmental diseases, such as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), with comparable favorable results.
Sound Therapy at Home
It is possible to receive specific therapies at home. In certain situations, such as the Samonas method, sound therapy sessions, which involve the patient listening to filtered sounds such as music, ambient noises, and human voices, may be conducted at the patient’s home at the therapist’s discretion. The other sound therapies that are available could be used for this. Similar to the Samonas technique, it would rely on the therapist, the overarching aims that the treatment is meant to achieve, and the specific supplies and tools that are needed to complete a session.
The wonderful thing about these therapies is that each recipient receives a customized treatment plan. Prioritizing your child’s needs and what you both feel will help them achieve their therapy goals can help them have a higher quality of life because of the skills they acquire and can utilize in the future.
A Sound-Based and Musical Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder Intervention
Any sound can be used for specialized therapy interventions, known as “sound-based intervention.” This is consistent with the definition of sound, which is the oscillation of air particles that the human brain perceives as sound. The terms “sound” and “music” have been used interchangeably when discussing music or sound treatment. Music is a particular kind of sound produced and structured with elements like melody, rhythm, harmony, and so forth, whereas sound is a general phrase that encompasses all sound forms. To put it simply, a sound is a subclass of music. Nevertheless, modifying and modulating the pitch, frequency, tone, and intensity are employed for interventions.
Sound Healing can Stimulate Damaged Nerve Cells
Sound healing is a significant complementary therapy that can help patients with chronic and everyday life issues. Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum disease, is a severe developmental disease that impairs a person’s capacity for interaction and communication. This disorder affects the neurological system and produces abnormalities in the brain, which impair learning, movement, and cognitive abilities, among other things. Although each person’s experience with autism is unique in terms of its intensity and scope, sound therapy can help manage the condition.
The Role Sound Healing Plays in Autism
Many children with autism are susceptible to specific sound spectrums. Certain frequencies may cause individuals to become activated, making them perceive them as painful sounds. Parents are required to examine such noises and filter them out, a practice known as selective hearing. Once these trigger sounds are suppressed, the youngster needs to be stimulated to retrain the brain. A child with autism can benefit from sound therapy by stimulating their damaged nerve cells.
Autism is Still Not Well-Known in Africa
Numerous African children with autism are kept concealed at home, occasionally restrained, and nearly never received a diagnosis. The battle to make the condition public is just getting started. Another reason, why many autistic children in Africa remain unnoticed: is because very few medical professionals possess the knowledge or expertise to recognize autism, if they even know it exists. There are only about 60 psychiatrists in Ethiopia, a country of about 100 million people, and only one specializes in child psychiatry. There are just two public clinics in Ethiopia that offer mental health care to children, and they are located in Addis Ababa, a city where only 15% of Ethiopians reside. For the approximately one billion Africans living in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, there were only 50 child and adolescent psychiatrists serving them.
Although the assistance these African children require has been sluggish, researchers are moving more quickly. Some are developing strategies to reach rural regions more rapidly and customizing diagnostic procedures and treatment plans for African people. The first gathering on the continent, the International Society for Autism Research, convened in South Africa in 2017 to showcase research there. The three-day event marked the first meeting of almost 300 researchers, therapists, and family members from over 25 nations, predominantly in Africa.
Autism is Currently more Prevalent among Black and Hispanic Children in the USA
Black and Hispanic children in the United States of America are now receiving autism diagnoses at a higher rate than White children for the first time, as recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. According to CDC estimates, 1 in 36 8-year-olds in the United States had autism in 2020. It is an increase from 1 in 44 from two years ago. For kids of color, however, the rate increased more quickly than for white children. According to the most recent statistics, 3% of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander children and 2% of White children are diagnosed with autism.
This contrasts with the past when the majority of white children with autism diagnoses were from middle-class or upper-class families who could afford to see autism specialists. According to research conducted as recently as 2010, white children had a 30% higher diagnosis rate for autism than Black children and a 50% higher diagnosis rate than Hispanic children.
Experts ascribed the shift to better autism services and screening for all children, as well as to heightened awareness and support for Black and Hispanic families. However, it is unclear if Black and Hispanic children with autism are receiving the same level of support as their white peers. According to a study, during the 2017–18 school year, Black and Hispanic children had poorer access to autism services than White children.
A developmental disorder brought on by variations in the brain is autism. Numerous symptoms could be present, many of which are also in other diseases. These can include exceptional needs for routine, social and emotional disengagement, and delays in language and learning. Although there is no known biological explanation for why it would be more prevalent in one racial or ethnic group than another, scientists think genetics may play a part.
For many years, children with severe communication or socialization difficulties, as well as those exhibiting odd or repetitive habits, were the only ones to receive the diagnosis. However, the phrase “autism spectrum disorders,” which refers to a set of comparable but milder illnesses, was used for these conditions some 30 years ago.
Black Children with Autism Receive Late Diagnosis
One of the extensive studies done on the subject in the USA to date indicates that Black children typically receive an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis three years after their parents first bring up concerns to their pediatrician. Due to their lack of exposure to the numerous advantages of early intervention services, they are inevitably left behind.
Black parents can be reluctant to discuss their concerns with their child’s doctor due to the long history of racism and implicit bias in the healthcare system. Many parents have complained that their pediatrician is condescending or hasty to attribute disruptive behaviors to lousy parenting or damaging stereotypes. In addition, a lack of experience may prevent pediatricians from identifying the symptoms of ASD. Some medical students are not exposed to much information about autism during their medical school.
Regarding developmental monitoring, doctors may choose to “wait and see,” meaning the child must undergo several evaluation rounds before receiving a diagnosis. To make matters worse, Black children are frequently misdiagnosed as having emotional problems or intellectual deficiencies first.
Parents should find out if the doctor treating their child has experience with autism to prevent this. However, a lot of Black parents have said they were unable to do so since they were unaware of the symptoms and had never heard of ASD. One of the primary reasons Black individuals would not seek out mental health resources and information has been identified as stigma. The past misinterpretation and mistreatment of Black people experiencing mental health problems is the cause of this. Many Black people are afraid to discuss their difficulties with mental health. This can make parents feel alone and fearful of being judged, which keeps them from getting their child diagnosed.
Nonetheless, parents must be informed about autism and act as advocates for their children. Families of Black children with ASD can find useful information and assistance from foundations like Autism in Black and The Color of Autism. If pediatricians continue to advise against additional testing, parents can request an evaluation on their state’s Early Intervention website. For a medical diagnosis, parents do not have to see pediatricians. They can visit any other autism testing agency or a clinician.
Additionally, there is optimism that more will be done to teach medical professionals how to recognize early indicators of autism in children from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds as studies on the value of autism training within the healthcare system continue to gain traction.
Autism Treatment Using Sound Healing Therapy
1. Sensory Integration
Sensory sensitivity is one of the biggest obstacles that people with autism must overcome. Sound therapy can improve an individual’s ability to perceive and adjust to their environment by controlling this sensitivity.
2. Reduction of Stress
Anxiety and stress are frequent companions for those with autism. The relaxing vibrations of sound healing therapy can reduce tension and encourage calm and relaxation.
3. Enhanced Interaction
By increasing focus and attention, sound therapy can help people with autism interact with others and improve communication skills.
4. Expression of Emotions
A lot of people with autism have trouble expressing their emotions. They might be able to express their feelings more calmly and harmoniously with sound healing therapy.
5. Enhanced Communication with Others
Sound therapy can promote fruitful social interactions and connections by lowering anxiety and enhancing communication.
Concluding Thoughts by Doc T Elliott
It is essential to examine how sound healing treatment may be used to treat autism, for this all-encompassing strategy has a lot to offer those who are autistic. Sound therapy’s relaxing vibrations and frequencies can support better communication, stress reduction, emotional expression, sensory integration, and successful social interactions. Although sound healing treatment is not meant to take the place of conventional therapies, it can be used in conjunction with them to enhance the quality of life for autistic people. I have not found studies on using sound therapy, particularly for autistic Black children. Still, from my research and experience, I recommend that this be studied and offered as a holistic treatment for them.