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Berard
AIT
is a 10 hour auditory intervention. There are 20 supervised
listening sessions of 30 minutes each, completed over 10 or 12
consecutive days. AIT has many
scientific studies. The minimum age recommended is 3
years.
AIT
Practitioners
are trained
professionals.
AIT Session
prices in the USA
range from about $1,200 to 2,000. Prices will vary
internationally by county.
All information
provided here is for
educational purposes. |
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Facts for Parents About Berard AIT
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The current Berard Auditory Integration Training (Berard AIT)
protocol requires that a Participant listen to modulated music on device
developed for Berard AIT, using high quality headphones for a total of ten
(10) hours, over 10 (or 12) consecutive days under the supervision of
a professional trained
AIT Practitioner. |
1. Cost of Berard Auditory Integration Training (Berard AIT)
-
 The cost for Auditory Integration Training sessions
typically ranges between $1,200 to $2,000 (in the USA) depending on
your geographic location and the
AIT Practitioner used.
- Any required
audiological tests are usually completed at an additional,
separate fee.
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4. What Does Auditory Integration Training (Berard AIT) Accomplish?
-
 Auditory
Integration Training retrains a disorganized auditory
system. The end result is that there is a more
efficient processing of auditory information as a result of
the 10 day Berard AIT program.
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Once
the cause of the hearing and auditory processing problem is
corrected, all therapy and other
educational interventions can
often become more effective. Changes can then occur
that enable the Participant to achieve at a higher
level.
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The human
body is constantly impacted by internal and external sound
stimulation and vibrational energy.
-
Each organ in
the human body responds to a different sound frequency.
When the listening process is not working properly, it
can interfere with our entire system, our overall health and
our ability to function in harmony.
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The way our
bodies respond to and process sound and vibrational energy
affects us deeply.
-
Sound
and frequency impacts our overall health, mood, energy
level, alertness, attention span, focus, concentration,
information processing and how we express ourselves, both
verbally and in writing.
5. Important
Berard Auditory Integration Training Protocols to Know
-
 Auditory
Integration Training is designed to be a comfortable, pain free,
non-invasive and pleasant experience.
- Berard
AIT is Non-Medical:
Auditory Integration Training devices are not considered to be medical
devices, they are not under the jurisdiction of the FDA.
- Age Minimum:
The
Berard
AIT protocol requires that the minimum age for participation is
three (3) years old.
- Maximum Age:
there is no maximum age for Berard AIT.
6. Current Devices Used for Auditory Integration Training
Read more on AIT Devices
(Images
copyrighted © 2006 AIT Institute)
 The
Earducator device is used by certified
Berard AIT Practitioners
worldwide for Auditory Integration Training. This device has
been used since 1998 and was approved by Dr.
Guy Berard for use in his AIT method. Purchase of this device is only made
available to trained and certified Berard
AIT Practitioners. Music used with the Earducator is selected by the
Practitioner from an approved AIT music list.
 The
Digital Auditory Aerobics (DAA) is another device
also used by many certified AIT Practitioners worldwide for Auditory Integration Training.
The DAA device works on the same exact principles as the Earducator, but
provides Practitioners with easier clinical use because the 20 CD's for AIT
sessions, each containing licensed music licensed.
The music has a wide frequency spectrum and, during the recording process, it is
randomly modulated so as to be an exact
replication of the output produced by the
AudioKinetron.
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Audiokinetron Device and
BGC Device: A few of the remaining older Audiokinetron
and BGC devices are still in use for Auditory Integration Training. However,
both these two much older devices are now phased out and are no
longer manufactured or serviced.
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7. Volume Levels Used During Auditory Integration Training
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The
OSHA Noise Standard permits exposure to an average
noise exposure of 85 dBA for eight continuous hours.
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Digital Auditory Aerobics (DAA) Device: for special needs children 3
and under 4, a separate port is set to a maximum of 65
dB.
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For a child 4 years and older through adults,
the best effect from Auditory Integration Training will be achieved
at a setting that is comfortably loud for that individual.
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The
AIT Practitioner
will set the volume at a level that is "comfortably loud"
for the listener.
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As the sessions progress, the
AIT Practitioner
will attempt to increase the volume always maintaining a volume that
is "comfortably loud" for the Participant.
8. Number of
Berard Auditory Integration Training Sessions
-
 Berard
protocol requires a total of 20 sessions.
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Each
Auditory Integration Training session is 30 minutes per day, two (2)
times per day with a minimum of 3 hours in between listening sessions.
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Berard
protocol allows that the 20 sessions may occur either:
- over a
10 consecutive day period
OR
- the 20
sessions may occur over a 12 day period which
includes 5 consecutive days, then a 2 day weekend break, followed by
another 5 consecutive days.
9.
Ear Check and Audiological Testing for Auditory Integration Training
Read More About Audio
Testing
The
Ear Check and Audio Tests
for Auditory Integration Training are done to determine
the true nature of a Participant's hearing.
-
 If a Participant is able to cooperate with such tests,
they are the basis for determining if filters - if any
- will be used during Auditory Integration Training
sessions.
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It is recommended that the
ear health check be only a few days prior to Berard AIT.
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It is recommended that
audio tests be done within
7 days
of
beginning Auditory
Integration Training.
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The closer the
audio testing is done to the beginning of
Berard AIT, the better.
10. Testing for the Use of Filters
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 Audio testing must be done
by a qualified audiologist or qualified professional trained to administer such test who is able to
provide the specific information required
by the Berard
Audiogram Testing Protocol
and who also has experience interpreting such tests.
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For an
audio test to be valid, a Participant must
be able and willing to accurately respond to a series of
tones through special headphones to determine the
Participant's threshold for each tone.
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For
audio testing results to be used for Berard
AIT, all these frequencies to in a range from 20 db to a
-20 db (relative to
the individual)
for each ear must be tested
at
all 11 frequencies.
11.
Audio Testing of Very Young Children and Special Needs Children
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 In most cases, children under the age of 5 and
those with special needs may have difficulty
cooperating with the tests due to the nature of the
audio testing required to use filters.
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those for whom a valid test can NOT be obtained for Berard AIT,
the Berard protocol used without filters has been
scientifically proven to still be very effective, viable and helpful
as an intervention.
12. What If My Child Gets Sick During
Auditory Integration Training?
If a Participant gets an fluid in the ear or an ear infection during
Auditory Integration
Training
sessions must stop immediately!
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 Ear Health Check: Be sure to consult a qualified health
care professional before beginning Auditory Integration Training
listening sessions to have the ears checked thoroughly.
Ear Infections:
Auditory Integration Training must not be conducted if
the Participant has an ear infection, or a perforated
eardrum.
After the ear infection has cleared up, Auditory
Integration Training can begin again. It is
usually safest to wait one month before re-starting
Berard AIT.
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Temporary Ear Tubes:
Auditory Integration Training must not be conducted
if an ear tube is loose. It is best to start
Auditory Integration Training after temporary ear tubes are removed.
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Permanent Ear Tubes: If permanent ear tubes are in
securely, Berard AIT is permissible.
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 FOOD:
Absolutely
NO EATING is allowed during Auditory Integration
Training sessions.
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READING:
Absolutely NO READING is allowed during Auditory
Integration Training sessions.
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PHYSICAL CONTACT : A parent may give a
back, arm, hand massage if this comforts the child.
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SLEEPING:
the child should remain awake during all of the
Auditory Integration Training sessions and be
actively listening for the maximum benefit
of Berard AIT. Some children become very drowsy during
Berard AIT session and afterwards.
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JUST LISTEN!:
The child should be encouraged to SIT QUIETLY AND
JUST LISTEN during Berard AIT and relax in a bean
bag or other comfortable chair.
14. What to
Avoid
During Auditory Integration Training Sessions
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 AVOID: ALL ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE ANY FINE MOTOR SKILLS.
These activities would include such things as playing with
puzzles, drawing, coloring, cutting, etc.
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AVOID: ANY TOYS, ACTIVITIES OR GAMES THAT ENCOURAGE HIGHER
LEVEL THINKING.
These types of toys would include:
dolls, action figures, building blocks, Lego's, etc.
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AVOID: ADDITIONAL STRESS FOR THE PARTICIPANT.
Auditory Integration Training should be conducted
with the child under as little stress as possible.
It is recommended
that
Parents
discontinue or keep all outside activities including school
and other therapies to a minimum during the 10 days of
Berard AIT.
Read Parents Tips.
15. Repeating
Auditory Integration Training
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 Any subsequent set of 20 Berard AIT sessions should NOT occur in
less than six (6) months from the date of the completion of the
previous Berard AIT session.
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Autistic
Children Repeating Berard AIT:
repeating Auditory Integration Training for any subsequent set
of 20 Berard AIT sessions should NOT occur in
less than one (1) year from the date of the completion
of the previous Berard AIT session.
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Auditory
Integration Training is an
educational intervention.
Dr. Berard developed a scientific method of retraining the
ear's acoustical reflex
muscle
- known also as the stapedius muscle so that the
Participant will be able listen and to process sounds more normally
without distortions and delays.
The volume of the music used for Auditory Integration Training is
set well under the safety guidelines established by
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). 
