Restlessness and problems with focus and concentration can often be linked to difficulties with auditory processing. You know your child can hear, but how well can they listen, or process what they are hearing?
Can you answer YES to any of these?
- Have signs of or a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia
- Struggle with reading, writing and spelling
- Have frequent emotional outbursts
- Sensitive to certain sounds
- Easily startled
- Difficulty focussing and paying attention
- Anxious in social situations
- Speech or language delay
- Often says “huh” or “what”
- Unable to remember a short sequence of instructions
- Poor social skills, trouble making friends
- Indistinct speech, poor articulation
- Restlessness, short attention span
- Poor memory
If you have answered yes to several of these, listening could be part of the problem.
In the Classroom
Many children find the classroom stressful and overwhelming. They let us know this through their behaviours. They will act out and disrupt their friends, or dissociate, and gaze out the window to “escape” the sensations of feeling overwhelmed. This is their body’s natural survival response when feeling threatened.
When we are stressed, the parts of the brain that process higher order thinking and language tend to become suppressed. We shift to more visual, action-oriented and instinctive behaviours.
Our nervous system, sensing a perceived threat, scans the environment, preparing us for fight or flight. Consequently, we may struggle to listen or find the words to express ourselves.
Hearing is our ability to take in sounds, while listening is for ability to make sense of those sounds. Successful classroom learning requires the ability to understand and remember information presented verbally.
Listening delays rarely exist in isolation. Testing usually highlights other gaps in early development, such as sense of balance and visual motor skills. They combine to make life in the classroom difficult, and often underlie learning and behavioural challenges.
Listening Assessment
The good news is that a listening assessment can identify areas of struggle for your child.
This is followed by a meeting with parents to discuss the results.
We usually suggest a program of therapeutic listening. This can be offered as part of an holistic, integrative approach which includes counselling and a program of sensory-motor development.
Gains generally include:
- Improved confidence and self esteem
- Learning – social, emotional, behavioural, physical and academic
- Emotional regulation
- Better focus in school and everyday life
- More able to access other therapies, such as speech, counselling, movement
- Calmer and more emotionally balanced
- Better learning outcomes in the classroom
- Improved social engagement, friendships
Next Step
If you are worried that your child is falling behind at school, hates reading and struggles to make friends, why not give us a call?
Your first 15 minute enquiry call is FREE
NDIS clients are welcome, and no referral is necessary.
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A PACFA accredited Holistic Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Rosalind is also a Registered NDIS Provider, Circle of Security Facilitator and approved Victims Services Counsellor.
Sessions are available in person at Moruya South Head, and online via zoom.
