In this newsletter, we celebrate and honor Autism Awareness Month. Autism has become a more common challenge for a higher proportion of the population than ever before. Auditory Integration Training (AIT) is one of the programs that has been highly effective in the treatment of the symptoms of Autism Spectrum and has been in use for over 40 years. As such, approximately 50% of those we have worked with over the past 25 years of service have been on the Autism Spectrum. We hope that you join us in helping to educate everyone regarding Autism Spectrum and what can be done to expand awareness of the condition and treatments available. Please spread the word and pass this on to others.
Autism is a complex disorder that affects no two people the same. As most of you know the criteria for the diagnosis has changed with the new DSM-V diagnostic manual. Ultimately when dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) we should identify what the specific issues and needs are for each individual person. As the new description identifies, Autism is a spectrum of issues from low to very high functioning, brilliant people, and from severe to mild. Therefore, it is inappropriate to prescribe one single solution to everyone. One person may have learning disabilities but be able to effectively communicate their needs, while another may be unable to speak but able to learn anything presented to them. Of course, these are just two of the many aspects of the Autism Spectrum. Additionally, there are still many theories regarding the cause – some hypothesize a genetic basis, others identify environmental causation or a combination of both. Hopefully in the future, it will become more clear and give rise to more appropriate treatments. These differences are part of the enigma of Autism – its vast and complex pool of challenges and much more research is needed.
While the Berard method of Auditory Integration Training is able to treat a wide variety of conditions and issues, perhaps the largest group of people that are most often helped by this truly ingenious program are those on the Autism Spectrum.
Each potential client is evaluated to identify whether they are good candidates for the AIT program. The program is then custom-made for each person and changes as they improve over time. Since it is not a “one-size fits all” generic program we find it to be successful with the majority of clients. A good AIT practitioner will ask a range of questions related to many aspects of a client’s life. Some, but not all, of the areas that will be discussed are: sensory issues, dietary habits, allergies, social development, learning patterns, language/verbal skills, emotional responses and more.
AIT does not represent itself as being a cure for autism, although many of our clients have made remarkable recovery from serious autistic behaviors and have gone on to lead fruitful and independent lives. Instead, AIT works in a way that teaches the brain to form new neural pathways resulting in a period of retraining so that information received through audio channels is translated differently.
All people have challenges. Those with Autism often have a harder time than others due to the ignorance of many people about the disorder and the fact that it is a neurological and sensory based condition rather than something physical you can point to like a broken leg. Part of our mission is to help educate and share knowledge so that there can be greater understanding and awareness. Please join us in this mission.
To learn more about how AIT can help you, your child, or someone you know, please call to arrange a free 15-minute consultation with a certified Berard method AIT practitioner with no obligation. Call 1/828-683-6900 to schedule a time today.
Regards,
Sarah G.
