Dr. Guy Bérard Developer of Auditory Integration Training (AIT)

Bon Anniversaire Dr. Bérard

All at The Sound Learning Centre together with AIT practitioners around the world take this opportunity to wish Dr. Bérard a very Happy 96^th Birthday!

Through his development of Auditory Integration Training (AIT) he has helped improve the lives of so many people. He has been an inspiration to the practitioners he trained and created a lasting legacy through his work.

Click Bérard International Day to see a press release to mark the day.

The Sound Learning Centre’s SenseAbility course for parents and carers are held regularly throughout the year. This popular course gives a comprehensive introduction on the role of the senses and movement in a child’s development and practical knowledge on how educational problems can be combated.

The date of our next course is the 8th March 2012.

Dates of further courses in 2012 will announced shortly.

Click below for further information

Information and Registration

We are delighted to announce the publication of the updated and expanded edition of Dr Bérard’s long out of print classic book about Auditory Integration Training (AIT).

It includes much additional information including contributions by The Sound Learning Centre.

Now available as:

Hearing Equals Behavior: Updated and Expanded
by Guy Bérard, M.D., and Sally Brockett, M.S.

Sensory processing issues frequently lie behind the diagnosis and labels associated with learning difficulties.

Hearing anomalies are often an unrecognised, underlying problem in those with poor language, limited attention, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other learning or behavioural challenges. Through a detailed explanation of Dr. Bérard’s clinical work, presentation of study data, and case histories, this updated and expanded edition presents a comprehensive report on Bérard Auditory Integration Training (AIT), a re-training programme that enhances these skills and abilities for many people.

Pauline gave a well attended one day sensory systems workshop under the title‘Activating Your Senses - A dynamic exploration of the world of sensory difficulties’. She shared her experiences and discoveries with many ‘light workers’ and pioneers in the field of light therapy at the International Light Association, 8th Annual Meeting and Conference. The workshop introduced the five direct senses with particular emphasis on the auditory system. It also explored the importance of the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. Participants had the opportunity to learn about interpreting audiograms and Visual Fields of Awareness and were also able to learn how sensory difficulties affect child development and how when unaddressed this may later lead to emotional difficulties as an adult.

The workshop on the 2 October preceded the main conference which will took place between 3 - 6 October 2011. Full details can be found on the International Light Association website.

Pauline and Phil visited the Greek Island of Kea in May 2011 and delivered a well received 5 day sensory systems workshop ‘How the Senses Inform Learning in Individuals – Understanding the impact of under performing sensory systems on development’ that focussed on the importance of the sensory systems in people’s performance and how these systems are involved in child development.

It provided valuable background knowledge to help understand how the senses are implicated in learning, sensory, behavioural and emotional difficulties. It explored the five senses, the vestibular system, proprioception, laterality and reflexes. There were opportunities to learn about evaluating movement, balance, co-ordination, speech and behaviour to better understand individuals with sensory difficulties.

The workshop provided valuable information that participants could put into practice immediately.

In June 2009 The Sound Learning Centre were privileged to be invited to one of the FARA children’s homes in Bucharest to give assessments and treatments for Auditory Integration Training (AIT) and Lightwave Stimulation (LWS) to a group of young adults. This group had only very recently been relocated from state institutions into FARA’s care.

After 10 days of sound and light therapy it was heart-warming to see the changes developing in all members of the group. These changes manifested in a variety of ways, including better eye contact, more vocalisation, improved posture and greater self confidence. One of the group, Gabriela who had never spoken a word or even uttered a sound has now started to speak some words. Overall, individuals were better able to focus and concentrate, so much so, that they were able to participate actively in a practical skills workshop in candle making with Pauline and Phil, which demonstrated their improved ability to listen and learn, and emulate skills.

You can read more about Gabriela, one of the young people we treated, in the FARA Newsletter, simply scroll down the page to the heading ‘FARA Changes Lives’.

At the end of the Outreach programme Pauline delivered the SenseAbility course to a number of FARA staff in Romania as well as responding to an invitation to give a talk at the Bioresonance Conference at the Faculty of Biology in Bucharest.

We are delighted to say that all of the young people have continued to make progress since our visit and we remain in contact via telephone and webcam. We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to all the incredibly dedicated staff of FARA, both in the UK and in Romania for such a warm welcome and for all their time and assistance during our visit.

For further details about this UK based charity, please visit the FARA website.

ABC Radio (the Australian equivalent of the BBC) has a programme called The Health Report. In December 2008 the programme focused on children with speech & language problems. The programme is called Gap Kids, referring to children who ‘fall through the gap’ between different educational services.

From our experience this problem is common in the UK as well. The Sound Learning Centre has the treatments that can help children with speech and language problems through Sound Therapy.

If you fear your child is a Gap Kid, then please contact us for helpful friendly advice.

On Wednesday 11 March 2009 Pauline Allen gave a talk about ‘Practical Solutions to Learning Difficulties’ at the newly developed Play and Resource Centre (PARC) near Braintree in Essex. Pauline talked about the work of The Sound Learning Centre and presented a number of typical case studies. She also provided advice and guidance to the audience regarding their individual concerns.

Originally set up in 2004 PARC have just moved in to their lovely new building and are hoping to redevelop the adjoining land into a sensory garden and additional playground.

Pauline Allen recently visited the Isle of Man and on 12 February gave a talk ‘Practical Solutions to Learning Difficulties’ to parents, carers and other interested parties at The Sefton Hotel in Douglas.

The following day Pauline gave a presentation at the DHSS Education and Training Centre, to a group of medical professionals entitled, ‘The Relationship Between Sensory Processing and Learning Difficulties: What Can Be Done To Help.’ The presentation was part of their Postgraduate Educational Lecture Programme.

Both talks were well received and were followed by lively question and answer sessions.

Pauline was overwhelmed by the warmth of the ‘Manx Welcome’ she received.

For further details, please contact us on telephone +44 (0)20 8882 1060, or by e-mail.

Pauline gave a talk to the Light Symposium in Wismar, Germany, Wednesday, 5 November 2008. Her talk was one of range of presentations about how light affects our lives and well being. Topics covered at the symposium included the role of light in architecture and building design, the importance of light in Islamic cultures and light as a medical treatment. Pauline’s own talk, "Light to the Brain - Balm to the Soul“ was based on her years of hands on experience treating children and adults and was enthusiastically received.

The conference took place between the 4th and 8th of November. Full details can be found on the Light Symposium website .

Pauline Allen gave a talk on Sensory Difficulties Associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorders at The Oak Room, Oak Tree Children’s Centre, Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 3RG on Monday 16 June 2008.

For more information, please contact The Sound Learning Centre on telephone +44 (0)20 8882 1060 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 (0)20 8882 1060      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or by e-mail.

Pauline Allen gave a talk on the underlying causes of learning and developmental difficulties and what can be done about them at the Scouts Headquarters, 229 St. Aldhelms, Raynes Road, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2LD on Monday 28 April 2008.

Pauline Allen gave a short presentation entitled “Light For Wellbeing”, on 1 April 2008. This was part of UK Displays & Lighting Knowledge Transfer Network series of meetings with the theme “Using Lighting Technologies to influence Mood, Health and Wellbeing”. It was a one day, cross-disciplinary, event at The Hesperia Hotel, Victoria, London, SW1V 1QA, U.K.

Pauline Allen gave a talk on Dyslexia and other learning difficulties for the Dyslexia Parents Association of Thessaloniki at the Diakonia Hotel, Pilaia Thessaloniki Sunday 17 February 2008.

Pauline Allen gave a talk on the underlying causes of learning and developmental difficulties and what can be done about them at the KDYS Youth Centre, Fairhill, Killarney, County Kerry in Ireland on Wednesday 30 January 2008.

Pauline Allen visited Abu Dhabi during January and February 2008 to provide consultations, assessments and reviews. Whilst there she also delivered talks on learning difficulties at “The Club” in Abu Dhabi.

It is hoped that the high level of interest will be followed by a number of return visits to see individual clients and offer personalised treatments.

For further details, please contact us on telephone +44 (0)20 8882 1060, or by e-mail.

Pauline Allen gave a talk on Saturday 24 November 2007 at ‘My School’ Montessori School in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.

Pauline Allen addressed the PLDC Convention on Friday 26 October 2007 under the title “Lighting up people’s lives – practical applications of light therapy in a clinic based environment”. The conference was held from 25 till 27 October 2007 at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington, London, U.K.

Pauline Allen presented The Sound Learning Centre’s SenseAbility course on Sunday 7 October 2007 at the Pan-Hellenic Educational Convention in Rhodes Town, Rhodes, Greece.

Pauline Allen presented The Sound Learning Centre’s SenseAbility course on Saturday 29 September 2007 to members and non-members of the Norwegian Light Society. On Sunday 30 September 2007 she gave a talk about the work of The Sound Learning Centre.