Berard Auditory Integration Training at The Davis Center

Berard Auditory Integration Training (AIT)

Watch two informational videos at http://www.aitinstitute.org/Video_Player/videos.htm to see AIT at work!

What is Berard Auditory Integration Training or AIT?

AIT is a sound therapy based on improving, strengthening, or exercising the acoustic reflex muscle in the middle ear, which in turn improves the body's reaction to sensory overload in the brain. People react by being hypersensitive (over-sensitive) or hyposensitive (tune out) to sound.

Dr. Guy Berard, an ENT doctor from France, developed AIT as a way to improve his own hearing difficulties. Annabel Stehli introduced this therapy to America in her book, "The Sound of a Miracle" as a treatment that helped her autistic daughter overcome her Autism.

Who can benefit from AIT?

People with receptive language, balance (vestibular), or fluency problems, the inability to stay focused, distracted by random sounds, slow response time, inconsistent performance, tuning out, daydreaming, incorrectly following directions, covers their ears, avoids noisy situations, and learns better visually. Those who are hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sound, or those who experience auditory perceptual problems.

Why does AIT work?

AIT works on the principle that if sound has been partially blocked or becomes painful, successive flexing and extensions of the middle ear muscles will increase mobility and decrease pain. This stimuli influences portions of the brain correlating to the auditory pathways. When alternating low and high pitched sounds are introduced randomly to the auditory system, the brain is stimulated; thereby adding to the overall positive effect. This principle then is based on mechanotherapy, i.e., improvement by mechanical means.

Dr. Berard explains that the AIT sessions exercise the muscles in the middle ear cavity. The treatment strengthens the muscles and improves the body's reaction to sensory overload. He feels that at some time in the person's life (in utero, at birth, or after birth) something occurred to inhibit the body's normal reaction to sensory auditory overload and the body has not recovered.

The brain, when deprived of appropriate stimuli, does not work to capacity. By stimulating the auditory areas of the brain, the auditory cortex reorganizes and improvement is noted. Research with animals demonstrated that the brain has the capacity to shift thresholds and rearrange circuits. It is suspected that the stimulation of the auditory areas, with Dr. Berard's AIT, helps with the threshold shifts.

What does AIT involve?

Berard AIT requires an Initial Consultation, three Audiograms (initial, mid, and final), 20 half-hour sessions, and an analysis of a follow-up checklist after three months. The twenty half-hour sessions occur twice daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with at least a three hour break in between. The sessions may be interrupted by a weekend. The music from the Audiokinetron, the device invented by Dr. Berard, or the Digital Auditory Aerobics machine are played at levels below the threshold of discomfort. These instruments are monitored for compliance and are within OSHA acceptable standards. In most cases, training will not be attempted if middle ear fluid, infection, or myringotomy tubes are present.

Not everyone can benefit from AIT; therefore, an Initial Evaluation is extremely important. This Evaluation will include a "sound sensitivity audiogram" and discussion about the client’s functioning in everyday life. The client, or parent of the client, must fill out an extensive questionnaire, which will be discussed at the Initial Evaluation. If the client is considered a candidate for AIT, the sessions can be scheduled.

Why use The Davis Center?

Dorinne S. Davis M.A., CCC-A, FAAA, President/Founder of The Davis Center, was the first Certified Practitioner of Auditory Integration Training (AIT) in the State of NJ. Dorinne was personally trained by Dr. Berard in 1992, and has been a practicing Audiologist since 1973 and is licensed in NY, NJ and PA. She specializes in Educational and Rehabilitative Audiology, and holds certifications in Speech Correction, Pre-school Education, and Deaf Education.

Dorinne is the author of two books, "Otitis Media: Coping With the Effects in the Classroom", and "A Parent’s Guide to Middle Ear Infections", as well as numerous articles. She is an international lecturer in the field of hearing and education, and has been recognized in many Who’s Who publications over the years. Additionally, Dorinne is a member of the Association of International Berard Practitioners who's limited membership is comprised of practitioners strictly adhering to Dr. Berard's protocol. Dorinne recently visited Dr. Berard at his home in Annecy, France, and discussed his method and its future.

What makes The Davis Center unique with regard to this particular therapy, is that a "sound sensitivity audiogram" is used, as trained by Dr. Berard. There are three other differences, which include Acoustic Reflex Muscle testing, the use of a Typanogram and that AIT instruments are monitored for compliance to, and are within, OSHA acceptable standards.

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