ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Auditory Processing Therapy</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="description" content="Merritt Speech & Learning specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders and processing disorders."> <meta name="keywords" content="speech, language, language pathology, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dylexic, dysgraphic, differential diagnosis, communication disorders, speech therapy, speech therapist, developmental delay, auditory processing disorders, visual processing disorders, phonics, american speech language hearing association, florida speech language hearing association, scientific learning, fast forward, 4WD, step 4word, interactive metronome therapist"> <meta name="language" content="English"> <meta name="author" content="Merritt Speech"> <meta name="copyright" content="2001, Merritt Speech and Learning"> <meta name="robots" content="ALL"> <meta name="reply-to" content="info@merrittspeech.com"> <meta name="document-class" content="Published"> <meta name="document-classification" content="Health"> <meta name="document-rights" content="Copyrighted Work"> <meta name="document-type" content="Web Page"> <meta name="document-rating" content="Safe for Kids"> <meta name="document-distribution" content="Global"> <meta name="document-state" content="Static"> <meta name="cache-control" content="no-cache"> <meta name="Abstract" content="Merritt Speech & Learning specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders and processing disorders."> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="EN-US"> <meta name="Publisher" content="Cordaxis"> <meta name="Publisher-Email" content="info@cordaxis.com"> <meta name="Placename" content="Jacksonville, FL"> <meta name="Contributors" content="Merritt Speech & Learning"> <meta name="Page-Topic" content="Medizin"> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- function MM_swapImgRestore() { //v3.0 var i,x,a=document.MM_sr; for(i=0;a&&i<a.length&&(x=a[i])&&x.oSrc;i++) x.src=x.oSrc; } function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0 var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array(); var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++) if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}} } function MM_findObj(n, d) { //v3.0 var p,i,x; if(!d) d=document; if((p=n.indexOf("?"))>0&&parent.frames.length) { d=parent.frames[n.substring(p+1)].document; n=n.substring(0,p);} if(!(x=d[n])&&d.all) x=d.all[n]; for (i=0;!x&&i<d.forms.length;i++) x=d.forms[i][n]; for(i=0;!x&&d.layers&&i<d.layers.length;i++) x=MM_findObj(n,d.layers[i].document); return x; } function MM_swapImage() { //v3.0 var i,j=0,x,a=MM_swapImage.arguments; document.MM_sr=new Array; for(i=0;i<(a.length-2);i+=3) if ((x=MM_findObj(a[i]))!=null){document.MM_sr[j++]=x; if(!x.oSrc) x.oSrc=x.src; x.src=a[i+2];} } //--> </script> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" background="art/bg.gif" onLoad="MM_preloadImages('art/rollover/about_f2.gif','art/rollover/servides_f2.gif','art/rollover/contact_f2.gif')"> <table width="600" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="125" valign="top" align="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="125"> <!-- fwtable fwsrc="rollover.png" fwbase="rollover.gif" --> <tr> <!-- Shim row, height 1. --> <td><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="125" height="1" border="0" name="undefined_2"></td> <td><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" name="undefined_2"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <!-- row 1 --> <td><a href="about.htm" target="_self" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('about','','art/rollover/about_f2.gif',1);" ><img name="about" src="art/rollover/about.gif" width="125" height="37" border="0" alt="about us"></a></td> <td><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="1" height="37" border="0" name="undefined_2"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <!-- row 3 --> <td><a href="services.htm" target="_self" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('servides','','art/rollover/servides_f2.gif',1);" ><img name="servides" src="art/rollover/servides.gif" width="125" height="37" border="0" alt="our services"></a></td> <td><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="1" height="37" border="0" name="undefined_2"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <!-- row 4 --> <td><a href="contact.htm" target="_self" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('contact','','art/rollover/contact_f2.gif',1);" ><img name="contact" src="art/rollover/contact.gif" width="125" height="37" border="0" alt="contact us"></a></td> <td><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="1" height="37" border="0" name="undefined_2"></td> </tr> <!-- This table was automatically created with Macromedia Fireworks 3.0 --> <!-- http://www.macromedia.com --> </table> <p><img src="art/ap-sidebar.jpg" width="120" height="120"><a href="serv_diagnosis.htm"><img src="art/listen.gif" width="112" height="55" border="0"></a></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2"><a href="index.htm">Back to Home</a></font></p> <a href="award.htm"><img border="0" src="art/three-awards-button.png" alt="three national awards"></a> </td> <td width="40"><img src="art/rollover/shim.gif" width="40" height="8"></td> <td width="431"> <p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3" color="#000066">Auditory Processing Therapy</font></b></p> <p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000">&#147;Unless There is a Distinction . . .&#148;</font></b></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000">1st Corinthians 14:6-12 is a well-known and loved Bible text. The Lord has a primary message in that scripture that is of utmost importance to all Christians. However, there is also an underlying truth that I believe is critical to the work of helping children with their speech and learning skills that He has called me to. Look at verse 7, it says: </font></p> <blockquote> <p><i><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="-1" color="#000066">Even in the case of life-less things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? </font></i></p> </blockquote> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"><i>Look at verse 9, it says:</i></font> </p> <blockquote> <p><i><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="-1" color="#000066">So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? </font></i></p> </blockquote> <p><i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000">Look at verse 11, it says: </font></i></p> <blockquote> <p><i><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="-1" color="#000066">If I then do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. <br> </font></i></p> </blockquote> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><img style="padding:15px" src="art/744-ap.jpg" width="200" height="113" align="right"></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In a child's normal development, it is natural for him to learn to hear smaller and smaller pieces of sounds. Research has proven that healthy babies who are 6+-months old and above hear small pieces of sound, sounds as small as 10 milliseconds in duration. They can even discriminate or hear the distinction between these small pieces of sounds. The reason that is so critical is that speech sounds, or phonemes, are very small pieces of sound. For example, the difference between  pet and  bet is only a 30 millisecond sweeping sound of  puh or  buh . So, if a child has an Auditory Processing Disorder, he is unable to capture and discriminate those very small pieces of sound. Children or adults who have an Auditory Processing Disorder need a much larger piece of sound, maybe as large as 100 to 200 milliseconds long. This is not a hearing problem; it is a processing problem.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"> The first step, according to the Scripture, is for the child to learn to hear "a distinction in the notes," or to discriminate notes or pure tones. The first step, therapeutically, is to help the child learn how to discriminate notes or pure tones. One of the games in the Fast ForWord Program is called <a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/language-series/fast-forword-language/index.php" target="_blank">Sky Gym</a> or <a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/literacy-series/fast-forword-literacy/index.php" target="_blank">Space Racer</a>. It is a 15 to 20 minute exercise in discriminating pairs of sweeping tones. Are the two tones sweeping "high/high" or "low/low" or "high/low" or "low/high"? Once a child learns that distinction, the two tones are then presented closer and closer together by increments of 5 milliseconds on this adaptive computer program. </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"> The next step, according to the Scripture, is an expressive task. It involves clear speech intelligibility. The Lord placed good auditory (listening) discrimination before good speech intelligibility. This is no mere coincidence. Generally, the child who does not have good auditory discrimination skills does not have clear well enunciated speech. </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"><img src="art/apt1.jpg" width="200" height="134" hspace="10" align="left"> The final step, according the Word, is the auditory comprehension task. That is improved auditory comprehension skills in conversational speech. For the child who does not have good auditory discrimination skills he/she does not readily understand all of what is spoken. It would be like trying to listen to a foreigner and be unable to understand all of what was being said. </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"> The good news for these children is that an auditory discrimination deficit is completely remediable. It will take a commitment of time, energy, and resources, but it can be done. Thank the Good Lord we live in this day and age when knowledge has increased dramatically. The discovery that timing is critical to the discrimination of auditorially presented information was revealed by Dr. Paula Tallal in the early 1970 s. The discovery that the brain can develop new pathways in the brain was well established by Dr. Michael Merzenich. Only today, with the advanced computer technology and the global communication capabilities can we provide the child with this interactive adaptive program through <a href="http://www.scientificlearning.com" target="_blank">Scientific Learning Corporation</a>. This program has been patented and proven to addresses that critical timing component.</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"><img src="art/apt2.jpg" width="300" height="201"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000">As the child's auditory discrimination skills improve, then the child's auditory comprehension, auditory memory and verbal expression skills improve concurrently. Hearing "a distinction" is critical to good success in speech and learning skills for all students, no matter what age. The student's age and skills will determine the appropriate entry point for Auditory Processing Therapy. For more information about <a href="http://www.scientificlearning.com" target="_blank">Scientific Learning Corporation</a> and the four programs, please see: </font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1" color="#000000"><a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/language-series/fast-forword-language/index.php" target="_blank"> Fast ForWord Language Vs 2 (children ages 5 - 12)</a><br><br/> <a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/language-series/fast-forword-language-to-reading/index.php" target="_blank"> Fast ForWord Language to Reading Vs 2 (adolescent)</a><br><br/> <a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/literacy-series/index.php" target="_blank"> Fast ForWord Literacy (third grade to adolescent)</a><br><br/> <a href="http://www.scilearn.com/products/literacy-series/fast-forword-literacy-advanced/index.php" target="_blank"> Fast ForWord Literacy Advanced (adolescent to above)</a><br> <br> <b>Merritt Speech &amp; Learning<br> Dana M. Merritt, M.S. CCC-SLP, IMT<br> 904-721-4122 </b></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="services.htm"><img src="art/backservice.jpg" width="166" height="20" border="0" alt="Services Menu"></a><br> <br> </font></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td align="left" valign="top"> <!-- PayPal Logo --> <form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"> <table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" align="center"> <tr> <td align="center"><font face="verdana,arial,helvetica" size="2"><b>Pay for services securely through PayPal!</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick"> <input type="hidden" name="business" value="merrittspeech@bellsouth.net""> <input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Professional Services"> <input type="hidden" name="amount" value="0.00"> <input type="image" src="http://images.paypal.com/images/lgo/logo3v.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!" title="submit"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="http://images.paypal.com/images/icon_visa.gif" border="0" alt="Visa"> <img src="http://images.paypal.com/images/icon_mastercard.gif" border="0" alt="MasterCard"> <img src="http://images.paypal.com/images/icon_discover.gif" border="0" alt="Discover"> <img src="http://images.paypal.com/images/icon_amex.gif" border="0" alt="American Express"> <img src="http://images.paypal.com/images/icon_echeck.gif"alt="eCheck" border="0"></td> </tr> </table> </form></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td align="center" valign="top"><br> <a href="http://www.discovertec.com/" target="_blank"><img src="art/design_by.gif" width="188" height="39" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td> <table style="text-align:center;" cellpadding="20px"> <tr> <td> Copyright © - The Merritt Way- All rights reserved </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-12196988-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body> </html>