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You are here: Home / Intro / Next steps / Research

Next steps

Research

“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought”
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Research in this field is of great importance and will support people with learning and sensory difficulties throughout the world. The Sound Learning Centre supports research through its affiliation with a wide range of professional bodies. Relating to our own work, we gather detailed data on the immediate and long term results of the treatments we offer. For all our clients we record detailed pre- and post-treatment test results, and short and long term client feedback in order to verify the effectiveness of our treatments.

Statistical analysis will be published on this website and in our regular Newsletters as they become available. We also provide some useful links to other sources of research information.

We adhere to strict confidentiality rules and fully respect the privacy of our clients and will only publish aggregate statistical data that cannot be linked to individual clients.

1. Client profile

Based on a representative sample of 400 clients who were assessed or received treatment at The Sound Learning Centre between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007.

1.1. – Client profile – by Region

London 30.25 %
S.E. England 31.25 %
Rest of England 12.75 %
Scotland 13.50 %
Wales 0.75 %
Northern Ireland 0.75 %
Abroad 10.75 %
London = London Postal Codes.
S.E. England = Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Kent.

1.2. – Client profile – by Gender

Male

68.25 %

Female

31.75 %

1.3. – Client profile – by Age

Aged under 4 7.75 %
Aged 4 8.25 %
Aged 5 10.50 %
Aged 6 10.00 %
Aged 7 8.50 %
Aged 8 7.25 %
Aged 9 9.00 %
Aged 10 – 12 11.50 %
Aged 13 – 17 10.25 %
Aged 18 – 70 17.00 %

2. Presenting conditions

Based on a representative sample of 400 clients who were assessed or received treatment at The Sound Learning Centre between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007.

2.1. – Presenting conditions

The presenting conditions were reported to us by the client prior to our assessment and, as mostly more than one area of concern was given, a total of 850 conditions were analysed. The categories below show the percentage of clients that reported conditions within each category.

Dyslexia

12.75 %

Dyspraxia

8.75 %

ADD / ADHD / Hyperactivity

10.50 %

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Asperger’s Syndrome

33.75 %

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

1.50 %

Other Medical Conditions, including Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy,
Agrophobia, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Immune Deficiency Disorder

6.50 %

Hearing and Speech Difficulties, including Speech & Language Difficulties, Delayed or Lack of Speech, Echolalia, Hyperacusis / Sensitive Hearing, Tinnitus,  Auditory Processing Difficulties, CAPD, Stuttering, 'Cocktail Party' Syndrome

69.50 %

Visual Difficulties, including Light Sensitivity, Meares–Irlen Syndrome, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Macular Degeneration

12.50 %

Learning Difficulties, including Concentration, Memory, Sequencing Difficulties, Dyscalculia

18.00 %

Developmental Difficulties, including Developmental Delay, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Sensory Integration Difficulties

15.50 %

Emotional Difficulties, including Depression, Social Interaction and Behavioural Difficulties, Bedwetting

18.25 %

Sleeping and Eating Difficulties, including, Lack of Energy, Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa

5.00 %

3. Assessments

Based on a representative sample of 400 clients who were assessed or received treatment at The Sound Learning Centre between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007.

3.1. – Assessments – Ability to complete formal tests

Many young children and some less-able clients are unable to complete the full range of standard clinical tests. For these clients we employ specially adapted tests and observations during the assessment.

50.75 % of the sample fell within this category, while 49.25 % were able to complete the majority of the standard clinical tests.

4. Treatment results

We are in the process of compiling data on the clinical tests and feedback from clients that have followed one or more of our treatments. Data will be published here as soon as each element of the research is completed and verified.

4.1. – Audiometric Clinical Test

Results of analyses of 120 clients who underwent Auditory Integration Training (AIT) between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007 at The Sound Learning Centre and who were able to complete the Audiometric tests.

For each client a pure tone Audiometric test was carried out both prior to treatment and immediately post treatment. The hearing level was measured on each ear separately at 11 frequencies (125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz.).

The data concentrates on two main areas of possible change, the Hearing Level and Distortion.

The results show that:

bullet

109 Clients showed improved Hearing Levels = 90.8 % success rate;
bullet

Hearing level for these clients improved by 5.9 dB on average;
bullet

99 Clients showed decreased Distortion = 82.5 % success rate;
bullet

Distortion for these clients reduced by 37.1 %.

4.2. – Visual Fields of Awareness Clinical Test

Results of analyses of 100 clients who underwent Lightwave Stimulation (LWS) treatment between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007 at The Sound Learning Centre and who were able to complete the visual tests.

We measure at which point the client can identify the colour of a moving target that is moved towards the centre of a chart. We use four colour targets, red, green, blue and white. We measure the angle, but for the analysis we calculate the area within the measurement points, both prior to and post treatment. We record the change in Visual Fields of Awareness area, averaged for both eyes and all four colours after one series of treatments.

All clients showed an increase in the Visual Fields, with an average improvement of 326  %, or an increase in the viewing angle from under 5 degrees to over 10 degrees. An increase in the Visual Fields normally coincides with improvements in physical and emotional well-being, leading to better learning achievements.

Results by age group: aged 4-6: 554 % (n=10); aged 7-8: 539 % (n=21); aged 9-10: 514 % (n=20); aged 11-12: 509 % (n=8); aged 13-17: 235 % (n=12); aged 18+: 232 % (n=29).

5. Other research

We provide links to other websites with relevant research information below. The links will open up in a separate browser window to ensure you can easily return to the Sound Learning Centre website.

5.1. – Other research – AIT

Summaries and critiques of 28 reports on the efficacy of Auditory Integration Training (AIT), covering the period from January 1993 to May 2001 – the Autism Research Institute, USA – link.

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