The Sound Learning Centre

SenseAbility Course: Wednesday, 16 May 2012

phil — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:23:26 +0000

Last Few Places Available.

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.

Some of the recent feedback comments include:

“Great day! Would be a great course for many professionals.”

“Your course was very interesting and informative and you did a great job delivering it.”

The most productive sessions were: “Learning about the senses and how they affect people.”

“Use the course for education professionals and health visitors who interact with new parents.”

“Thoroughly enjoyable day.”

“Spread, spread, spread, information about this work…”

Our next course is Wednesday, 16 May 2012.

Save £30

You can save £30 on the cost this course by registering and paying early making this life changing day of training even better value for money. The full price is £160 but with the pre-payment discount it is just £130.

For more information, further course dates, or to book a place, please telephone us on 020 8882 1060, or apply on-line.

For more information and Registration

World Autism Awareness Day - 2 April 2012

phil — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:13:55 +0000

World Autism Awareness Day

Initiated by the United Nations, the 2nd April is annually observed as World Autism Awareness Day in an effort to draw attention to Autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions around the globe. It is intended to spur global action to combat the discrimination, abuse and isolation that people with the disorder and their loved ones face.

“Autism is not limited to a single region or a country; it is a worldwide challenge that requires global action”. “People with autism are equal citizens who should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.” says the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his 2012 message for the day.

There is a whole range of people on what is known as the autism spectrum ranging from those needing 24-hour care to someone like Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker. However, just because they are on the same spectrum they do not all have the same difficulties.

Autism is not a disease, but is a disorder that can occur in any family, irrespective of class, creed or nationality. It is identified by a the existance of a ‘triad of impairments’ relating to social communication, social interaction and social imagination. In addition there may be difficulties with fine and gross motor co-ordination and organisational skills. Often there are concerns about sensory processing. The auditory system is commonly reported as being oversensitive, which can have a significant effect on behaviour.

Individuals with autism have diverse skill sets and with the correct support, they can contribute to society. Unfortunatley high-functioning people with Asperger’s syndrome are overly represented in the prison population compared with society as a whole.

The earlier you intervene to help autistic children succeed in mainstream life the better. With early and appropriate intervention many avoidable costs associated with autism might not be incurred in later life.

An interesting article by Lynne Wallis that first appeared in The Guardian newspaper on Saturday 7 April 2012 entitled ‘Autistic workers: loyal, talented … ignored‘ considers how employers could recruit a whole army of unique workers, but that ignorance and fear get in the way. It looks at why autism is so misunderstood and what sufferers can offer.

The Sound Learning Centre is proud to have helped many children and adults with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome improve their performance and quality of life through the use of Auditory Integration Training (AIT). For more information visit the Autism or Sound Therapy pages on our website.

DPA General Meeting 21 April

phil — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:19:58 +0000

The Developmental Practitioners Asociation (DPA) General Meeting will take place:

on 21 April 2012

at The Sound Learning Centre, 12 The Rise, London. N13 5LE

Timing: 10am for 10.30 start - end 3.30 pm

The day will include:

An introduction to Auditory Integration Training (AIT) Lightwave Stimulation (LWS)used at the Centre - Pauline Allen

Work in Egypt and latest books and videos on the Waldon Method – Carol Mannion

Latest information about Primary Movement – Gwyneth Jeyes

DPA News and Information

General sharing of Members news

Cost: Free to Members. Non Members £10

To book a place: Contact to gwyneth.jeyes@btinternet.com or to Pauline at The Sound Learning Centre, by 17th April or Carol Mannion

Luncheon to be booked by 18 April, cost £5 for members and non members alike.

For directions see http://thesoundlearningcentre.co.uk/directions/

Telephone Contact: 0208 882 1060

Look forward to seeing everyone there.

Winter 2012 Newsletter

phil — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:18:11 +0000

We recently emailed our Winter 2012 Newsletter to our clients, we hope you found it interesting and informative.

For those that have not received a copy it is available for download from our website: Newsletter Issue 4 Winter 2012

Please let us know if you have any questions or areas of sensory difficulty you would like us to focus on - we value your feedback!

N.B. If you did not receive a copy because you have changed you email address please let us know. We would be pleased to update our information.

Happy Birthday Dr. Guy Bérard

phil — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:29:36 +0000

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.

Hearing Equals Behavior: Updated and Expanded

phil — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:34:59 +0000

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.

Sensory Workshop in Quebec, Canada - 2 October 2011

phil — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:31:26 +0000

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.

Sensory Workshop in Kea, Greece – 23 to 27 May 2011

phil — Sat, 28 May 2011 14:37:58 +0000

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.

Outreach Programme in Romania in June 2009

phil — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:45:32 +0000

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.

Gap Kids!

phil — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:45:39 +0000

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.