Acerca de

BERARD AIT ASSESSMENT

Speech and language, reading, auditory processing, short term memory and self -esteem may all be negatively influenced by poor functioning of the auditory system. Many professionals will diagnose standard hearing test results as being “within normal limits”, however, measuring only a narrow parameter of Pure tone threshold, leads to the general diagnosis measuring a response to volume alone. This type of general hearing tests will not assess many of the underlying cause of specific difficulties. 

​

The assessments we conduct, the observations and interpretations of results we get are detailed and are specifically aimed at not just assessing, but also finding ways to alleviate specific difficulties.

​

Wherever possible, at the initial screening assessment, hearing and listening are checked to get a auditory profile of the client, using Pure Tone Hearing testing. A distorted profile is likely to accompany difficulties in auditory processing. Where this is the case people are likely to benefit from the AIT training.

​

THE HEARING ASSESSMENTS that we conduct and their meaning

​

Pure Tone Threshold Testing

​

In this hearing assessment, pure tones are used over a range of frequencies and volumes to determine the level that can be heard at each frequency in left and right ears. Each ear is tested separately using headphones, starting with the right ear and progressing to the left. This is a general hearing test as mentioned above.

Our testing is conducted through the following frequencies; 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3,000, 4,000, 6,000 and 8,000Hz. The audiogram displays the results of a pure tone hearing test which is then plotted on a graph, see attached. Variations in response to the sounds across the frequency range, represent a form of auditory distortion. The greater the variations are, the greater the distortion. 

Difference between ‘Normal’ and ‘Non-normal’ Hearing.

The clinically ‘ideal’ pattern is for both ears to have a flat response at 0dB across the frequency range. This of course is seldom the case in real life.

On a standard hearing test results between -10dB and 30dB are considered to be within normal limits (in terms of hearing impairment). The expression ‘normal limits’ does NOT mean perfect hearing. It indicates that no hearing aid is required or that no medical intervention is considered necessary.

However, it is frequently misinterpreted as meaning that the person has no hearing problem and therefor no auditory problems and no difficulties in processing. Hearing is the ears ability to receive sounds, Listening and auditory processing, are the ability to understand, make meaning of and respond to sound.

When the measured threshold is positive (e.g. 20 dB) it represents an amount of hearing loss. It indicates that the sound required to just be heard at that frequency needs to be 20dB or greater. When the measured threshold is negative (-5db or less) this is an indication that the client has exceptionally sensitive hearing at certain frequencies and may therefore experience normal environmental sounds as disturbing or painful.

When this occurs, the natural, unconsciously triggered defence mechanism is to ‘switch off’ or ‘tune out’ altogether. This involuntary defence strategy has a similar effect on a person’s ability to absorb sound stimulus from the world. 

Variations in response to sounds across the frequency range, represents a form of auditory distortion. The greater the variations are, the greater the distortion. This means for example that for a 10 decibel increase in signal, the signal is 10 times more intense. For a -10decibel loss, the signal is 10 times less intense. Because it is logarithmic, a small difference on a vertical scale can mean a huge difference in the intensity of the signal:

​

5db means approximately 3 times difference - 3 times

10dB    10 times difference - 10 times

20dB    100 times difference - 10x10 times

30dB    1,000 times difference - 10x10x10 times

40dB    10,000times difference -10x10x10x10 times and so forth.

Wherever there is a variation in the hearing thresholds across the frequency range, sounds that are transmitted to the ears will not be ideally processed. Some form of auditory distortion will be involved depending upon the degree of variation, which will contribute towards any auditory processing difficulty.

The Speech Profile

The initial development of speech, making sense of language, and the ability to communicate effectively, is closely linked to the ability to hear sounds with minimal distortion.

The range of human hearing is about 20Hz to 20,000Hz. Human speech sounds range from about 100Hz to 10,000Hz. Individual speech elements use different frequency ranges.

Whenever there are hearing distortions in one or both ears, there is likely to be a difficulty with both the taking in and expressing of speech sounds. Minimal distortion is essential in the ability to develop speech and in making meaning of communications. Very commonly, some form of auditory distortion is involved in the poor development and understanding of speech. The degree depends on the range of the variation in the distortion. The greater the distortion, the more it will contribute toward auditory processing dysfunction.

The Pure Tone Laterality Test (Ear dominance)

​

This test is conducted with frequencies from 250Hz to 4,000Hz to determine which ear is the dominant or leading ear, or whether dominance is ambiguous.

Unless the right ear is dominant, timing delays will occur in transmission and processing of sound. This can cause difficulties ranging from a simple loss of concentration to speech and processing disorders. 

Most people have a consistent dominance to one side for eye, hand, ear and foot. Ambiguous dominance is more common in people with sensory integration, functional and learning difficulties. Right ear dominance is the quickest route for stimulus to go to the left side of the brain, which is where the speech and learning centres are.

Mixed or ambiguous dominance means delays in the information reaching the speech and learning centers and commonly result in problems with processing and focus. The resultant hesitancy causes a lag effect and the person is left in a constant state of ‘catch up’, confusion and overwhelm.

Problems associated with mixed, ambiguous or left auditory dominance:

The body, sends information to the opposite side of the brain. Most information from the right side of the body goes to the left side of the brain. Our speech and language centres in the brain are normally in the left hemisphere.

The most efficient route to this side is via the right ear. If the left ear is dominant, information is automatically sent to the right side of the brain and then, transferred to the left hemisphere, causing a time delay. These delays also occur with ambiguous or mixed dominance. Unless the right ear is dominant, timing delays will occur in transmission and processing.

If auditory dominance is ambiguous, is likely to causes problems ranging from simple loss of concentration to speech and processing disorders. Laterality problems also often appear as a difficulty making simple decisions or delayed comprehension. This hesitancy means that extra effort is needed to complete a task, resulting in a possible difficulty in following instruction and organizing self.

The Selectivity Test

​

This test uses pure tone sounds to test pitch discrimination ability. The ability to discern between sounds which are half octaves apart.

The most common way to distinguish pitch differences is ‘tone deafness’, common in people who can’t hold a tune. The further implication of this is that a person can easily miss the tonality in speech. The meaning of language is largely determined by variations in pitch, not just verbal content.

For example, this may result in a person not being able to determine between a statement and a question, or unable to understand subtlety of humour, or the emotional content of a communication.

Difficulty in this area can also result in tiredness and frustration at the end of a day due to the extra effort needed to understand the meaning of spoken communication.

​

Berard AIT is not used to directly treat conditions, it is used to retrain and improve the functioning of the auditory system. However, many of those with the following conditions also have auditory processing problems that contribute to their difficulties.

• Speech and language difficulties – stammering, stuttering, lisp, speech delay, limited vocabulary, incoherence or slow response time.

• Dyslexia – reading, writing and spelling difficulties; word syllable or letter reversals and phonological difficulties.

• Listening problems – need for instructions to be repeated, delays in processing, weak sound discrimination, poor hearing, adverse reaction to certain sounds, Cocktail Party syndrome.

• Hypersensitivity to sounds – painful hearing, covering the ears, aversion to noisy locations (classroom, playground, canteen) adverse reaction to certain voices and sounds (including sounds not heard by others), tuning out and daydreaming.

• Hyperactivity, AD(H)D, Autistic behaviour, short attention span, inability to sit still.

• Headaches and general fatigue, which may be due to having left ear dominance, causing a time delay leading to processing exhaustion.

• Dyspraxia – lack of coordination, poor posture, poor handwriting, imbalance between left and right ears- especially noticeable in speech and language difficulties and cross laterality.

• Distortions in hearing pattern – imbalance between the left and right ears, hypersensitivity and/or hyposensitive hearing at certain frequencies.

At Hear & Now Auditory, we favour Berard AIT for the following reasons:

• The most intensive effective clinical sound training available.

• The duration of the intervention is short only 10 days therefore compliance to the programme is high.

• Customisable to individual clients.

• A centre-based intervention, which enables close monitoring and adjustment.

• Research shows consistently good results.