Auditory Integration Training, AIT, Berard AIT, Auditory, Auditory Integration

 AIT Helps Improve the Lives and Learning of Those with Autism, ADHD, Hyperacute Hearing, Speech Delays & Tinnitus...in 10 Days.

The AIT Institute is the #1 Provider off AIT At Home Services globally and is the largest AIT resource website in the world.
 

AIT is the #1 clinically studied auditory based educational intervention!  All sessions are conveniently completed at home under the supervision of an AIT Practitioner. AIT services are available in the USA, Canada and other English speaking countries.

AIT requires 10 hours of sound therapy, with 20 sessions of 30 minutes each, done 2 times daily over 10 consecutive days.  This listening therapy helps to correct hyperacute hearing,  tinnitus and other auditory challenges.

AIT has been used successfully with children and adults with many different diagnoses for over 60 years.  

Remarkable results are achieved for many families. There are more than 60+ years of clinical research and 28+ scientific studies on AIT.

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History of AIT: A Brief History of Auditory Integration Training

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by Rosalie Seymour, SLP/A, Berard AIT Practitioner

What Is Auditory Integration Training

Auditory Integration Training is a form of auditory re-training that can enhance well being in a wide range of situations. The emphasis of Berard AIT is on educational difficulties, particularly the listening skills problems basic to phonics problems, reading and spelling difficulties, as well as to concentration problems and issues associated with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), autism, dyslexia, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and other learning disabilities.

The concept of Auditory Integration Training began in the medical practice of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) physician, Dr. Guy Berard in France. It should be emphasized that AIT was developed first as an intervention for hearing loss, and the sometimes accompanying tinnitus. After this, it became known in Europe for its usefulness in overcoming dyslexia. It was well documented in Dr. Berard's many years of medical practice where he treated 8,000 participants that certain cases of emotional and mood disturbances also responded well to AIT.

The Story of Georgiana Stehli, AIT and Her Recovery from Autism

It was the story of an American girl, Georgiana Stehli, labeled as “autistic”, “psychotic” , “dyslexic” and “retarded" that brought Auditory Integration Training to the United States and the special needs community. Diagnosed as autistic by internationally-renowned experts, she also had hyperacute hearing. She received her AIT sessions with Dr. Guy Berard at age 11 and started a slow steady recovery from both autism and dyslexia. After AIT her formal diagnosis of “retardation” was no longer an appropriate term and her giftedness in numerous areas began to show!  Her social skills developed to at least the competence of the average person. She is now married, a mother and supports her home with her own job. Georgiana Stehli travels as a speaker and counsels at an autism center.

What must not be forgotten, is that the changes were significant, but took hard work and patience. For years after AIT  Georgie’s mom, Annabel, with Peter her step father, worked steadily with Georgie to modify her problematic behaviors. A “quick fix” it was not! Those who have read her story in "Sound of A Miracle" know it was not an overnight miracle, with one of hard work and dedication to Georgie's recovery.

When AIT arrived in the United States, professional opinion was guarded and outright disinterested. The Stehli’s tried to give others the benefit of their experience and they worked steadily at letting others know about AIT . The Stehli's met with Dr. Bernard Rimland of the Autism Research Institute who was very interested in what had happened.

Dr. Rimland then obtained an Audiokinetron from Dr. Guy Berard and began to do research into its efficacy for autism along with Dr. Stephen Edelson. Before this development in the USA, across the border in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Gerard Binet of Canada had already been offering AIT  to special needs clients.

Growing Public Awareness of Auditory Integration Training

Information to the English-speaking general public was not available for many years due to the fact that Dr. Guy Berard's  book "Hearing Equals Behavior" was written in French and was not available in English.

Gradually, this situation changed. In 1990, the CBS News Team went to Dr. Guy Berard's home to record a TV program. When Georgiana Stehli finished school and college with honors, and was well on her way to establishing her own life, Annabel Stehli wrote her story, “The Sound of a Miracle”. The book “The Sound of a Miracle” came to public attention quickly on its release in 1991, and sparked a demand for AIT in the United States. The Readers Digest featured it as Book of the Month in March 1991. In December 1991, the ABC Television program "20/20" featured the story and some other case studies. Annabel Stehli was invited to speak frequently at conferences and meetings, she was interviewed by Larry King, Sally Jessy Raphael, and the Australian “Beyond 2000” ran a feature. Many newspapers continued to report stories about AIT. The Georgiana Institute was formed by the Stehli’s, to spread information about AIT and they arranged for Dr. Berard to come to the USA to train interested AIT Professionals from various disciplines. Between 1991 and 1993 about 8 such training courses were run, with about 20 people training per course. Since then, the number of AIT Practitioners who have been professionally trained in the Berard AIT protocol has grown steadily worldwide.

History of Equipment Developed for Auditory Integration Training

In the early 1990's, the FDA investigated the Audiokinetron which was used at that time for AIT, putting a “class 3” rating on it. This is a usual procedure. This restricted further development of the practice of AIT in the USA because nobody was allowed take an Audiokinetron across state borders, or bring one into the United States until the FDA tests had been concluded. A "class 3" rating puts such a device into the category of equipment that may be operated only by highly skilled practitioners.

The FDA subsequently declared that they have no control over devices which are used strictly for educational purposes. It was obvious that after the many years of use for Berard AIT the Audiokinetron had no proven risk involved. An American made device similar to the Audiokinetron was built by engineer Bill Clarke and was called the BGC. The old BGC device was used but is no longer being manufactured.

Read More About Currently Devices For Auditory Integration Training
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How to Become an Auditory Integration Training Practitioner: Click here for more information!

Qualified Professionals who are interested in becoming a certified AIT Practitioner may be trained through us by a Professional Trainer and then purchase a system for providing Auditory Integration Training.


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