iLs Newsletter 

May

2009

Issue 2

Vol 1

IN THIS ISSUE

* Interview: Teresa May-Benson, Sc.D., OTR/L, Clinic Director OTA Watertown

* iLs Announcements

* Upcoming Training Dates

* Tip of the Month: Using Wii Fit with iLs

* Interesting New Research

iLs INTERVIEW

  Teresa May-Benson, Sc.D., OTR/L

  Clinical Director at Occupational Therapy Associates – Watertown

  Watertown, MA

  www.otawatertown.com

Client Population & Interventions: OTA Watertown's focus is children and adults with sensory integration challenges.  Our clients are from 1 year of age to adults, with about 40% being on the autism spectrum. Interventions include sensory integration-based occupational therapy, listening therapy,Interactive Metronome, as well as visual/vestibular and oral motor work.

iLs Application: We use iLs both in-clinic and at home.  Typically, we try to have clinic-based intensives of OT and iLs 3-5 times per week for 15 sessions, take a 3-week break from listening (during which we have OT twice a week), and then return for 7-8 sessions of OT + iLs.  Depending on the needs of the child and the family situation, we may send a client home with the iLs Focus system. This is usually at the request of the parent for financial or logistical reasons.  We think of iLs as an important sensory modality, providing additional input for sensory integration intervention.

  Recent Case Study: We've had a number of clients with fantastic results but

  2 cases come to mind.  Both were boys with postural/praxis, attention and

  self-regulation problems.  One did a program over the holidays and his teacher

  approached his mom soon after the break with the boy's IEP in hand.  He

  asked why the boy had an IEP as he didn't see any of the problems listed on

  the IEP. The boy had begun doing homework on his own, attending in class,

  was more organized and interacting with others nicely, even going over to

  play with friends independently which he had never done before.

  The other case was the most amazing postural/praxis control turnaround

  I have ever seen in such a short period of time.  This child went from falling

  off a bolster with no stability and jumping from one activity to another with

  no planning to demonstrating good postural control and motor planning obstacle courses (which he would persist with for 20 minutes) in a matter of just five weeks.  We were able to discharge him to his public school OT for mostly fine motor work.

iLs ANNOUNCEMENTS

1- The iLs web site listing for iLs Associates has been updated.  Please go to the site and check your information to make sure it is correct.  If any changes need to be made, please email Kirill with the correction at kirill@integratedlistening.com

2- iLs newsletters and conference calls are now archived in the iLs Professional Resource Center.  The newsletters are monthly, the conference calls are every 2 months. The link to the professional resource center is near the bottom of our homepage.

3- Because of the current economic situation, iLs is not holding its annual conference in 2009; we hope the newsletters and conference calls will allow us to effectively share information and updates throughout the year, and then we will continue with our regular annual conference in 2010.

UPCOMING TRAINING

PRACTITIONER 1-DAY CERTIFICATION

PROFESSIONAL 3.5-DAY CERTIFICATION

TIP OF THE MONTH: Using Wii Fit with iLs

Christina Sevilla, founder of Denver Listening Center, was one of our first therapists to enhance their practice with Wii Fit.  Here are a few tips Christina has to offer those interested in combining iLs with this fun electronic game:

  Description: Wii Fit is a biofeedback device which has games that emphasize

  motor skills, coordination, motor planning and core strengthening.  It comes

  with a balance board which connects your TV monitor.

  When to use: I use it for kids (age 5+) as a reward for working hard during

  the session.  Kids look forward to a period of time on the Wii; it’s an incentive

  (and, yes, it’s a kind of bribe).  Especially good for kids with behavioral

  issues!

  The beauty of Wii: The beauty of it is that client is so distracted with the

  game, I can get 30 minutes of core strengthening and balance activities out

  of them whereas otherwise I might just get 10 minutes. The strengthening

  section of Wii Fit and the yoga program is very good for adults and teens.

Tips:

• Get the iLs gear on and ready before beginning the Wii game

• It’s client directed, so help them pick a game they like

• Wii tracks individual progress, so be sure to set goals with them

• Very good for kids w/ poor self esteem who haven’t been able to play sports; they can actually feel successful!

• Wii Fit makes for an especially good combination with a low frequency iLs program, posture-related activities, balance and core strength program

INTERESTING NEW RESEARCH

1- Music Reduces Stress in Heart Disease Patients, Bradt J., Dileo C., April 16, 2009
Researchers at Temple University release data on 1,461 patients; the research is preliminary but supports other evidence that music provides relief for coronary heart patients by reducing heart rate and blood pressure (may we ask, How much money was spent in bringing them to that brilliant conclusion?)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090409104303.htm

2- Brain Hub That Links Music, Memory and Emotion Discovered, U of California, Davis, 2009
fMRI images reveal the hub that links familiar music, memories and emotion in the medial prefrontal cortex region (right behind the forehead)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090223221230.htm

3- Students taking Music Lesson sDo Better in Math and Reading, Social Science Quarterly, 2009
Researchers at The Ohio State University release a study suggesting music involvement has a positive effect on elementary and high school students
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090210110043.htm

Contact Us: info@integratedlistening.com 5655 S. Yosemite Street, Suite 303 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 www.integratedlistening.com