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Berard Auditory Integration
Audio Test Protocol for Berard AIT Practitioners
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On-line AIT Checklist
Children with autism, age 6 and under or those who cannot comply are notrequired to do any Audio Testing before or after AIT. AIT
will still be as success without this testing.
If a child
or adult is able to participate
in this type of testing, this is the recommended Berard Audio Test Protocol
to be followed. Audiological testing is done for those Participants who
can cooperate but is NOT REQUIRED in order to complete Berard AIT.
- The
Audio Test for Berard
AIT should be administered in a quiet, but not soundproof room.
(The door of a soundproof booth may be left open.)
- Instructions
should be simple and brief.
- Many
of the Participants who will be participating in this test may have
auditory processing difficulties.
- The
preferred response for the audio test is to "Say
YES when you hear the sound, and NO when you do not".
- Make it plain
to the Participant that you want a clear, simple, "YES"
or "NO", not comments like "I think so"
or "YES, but very soft".
With
difficult to test Participants, such as young children or Participants
with autism, or with
severe attention deficits, one may have to resort to creative ways to
keep their attention, and to find a response style that works for them.
Placing a chip into a container is an acceptable response. Any unusual
difficulty in response should be noted too, because it may reflect on
the person's auditory processing.
A
Note on Testing Autistic
Children and Adults: Testing
Is Not Required
-
If
the child or adult cannot understand the procedure or is very anxious and stressed,
discontinue testing.
-
Behavioral
observations are not used for the Berard protocol.
-
A
definitive, voluntary response is required.
-
If
the individual's responses are not reliable and consistent, the test
will not be able to be used for determining if filters are needed.
-
All
eleven frequencies are to be tested in each ear.
Two
Types of Testing Methods for Berard Auditory Integration Training
-
Increase
the loudness of the tone quickly from - 10 dB until the Participant
says he can hear the tone.
-
Decrease
in steps of 10 dB until the Participant says "NO".
-
Increase
again in steps of 5 dB until the Participant says "YES".
-
Decrease
again in steps of 5 dB until the Participant says no.
-
Cross
over the threshold 3 times to check reliability.
-
Before
starting the next frequency, reset the loudness to - 10 dB.
Method
2
-
The
tone is presented at a moderate (35 dB) loudness, for 1-2 seconds. If
the response is positive, decrease by 20 dB steps until the response
is "NO".
-
Then
present tones in increments of 5 dB steps until the response is "YES".
-
Now
decrease by 10 dB until the response is again no. Increase in steps
of 5 dB until the "YES" response is given.
-
Cross
over the threshold three times
to make sure it is reliable, and then mark on the graph the softest
sound heard.
-
Repeat
this method for each frequency in the right ear, and then begin again
with the left ea
Test
of Laterality (Adaptation of the Weber Test)
-
The
bone-conductor is placed on the forehead, and the Participant is asked
to point to the ear in which the sound is heard.
-
Set
the audiometer at 40 dB for 250 Hz and at 50 dB for all the rest of
the frequencies. All frequencies from 250-4000 should be tested.
-
Present
the tone for 250 Hz and ask where the tone was heard. It may be heard
on the left side of the head, in which case mark with
an L. If the Participant
indicates the signal is heard on the right, mark with
an R. If the Participant
seems to be hearing it in the middle or all over, then
mark with a (O), and go
to the next frequency.
-
If
the Participant does not understand, try having the Participant
cover one ear with his or her hand while he or she speaks. Ask where
the Participant heard their voice: "did it seem to
be in their left ear, right ear or in the middle?"
Test
of Selectivity
-
For
this test, the headphones are put on the ears again, and the Participant
is asked to listen to two tones presented and say whether they
are "the same", or whether they
are "going higher" or "going
lower".
-
Set
the loudness at 50 dB. Present a tone of 8000 Hz in the right
ear first, and tell the Participant: "THIS IS HIGH".
-
Present
a tone of 125 Hz and tell the Participant "THIS
IS LOW".
-
This
is repeated three times, or until the Participant has understood
(within a reasonable time).
-
Present
a tone of 8000 Hz now, followed by a step down, to 6000Hz, and ask
"is this higher, lower, or the same?"
-
The
Participant's response is noted, and the next step down (4000Hz) is
presented, and their response is asked.
-
A
curved line is placed over any two frequencies that are incorrectly
identified.
-
A
SLASH is placed above each frequency that
is correctly identified.
-
Draw
a ---------- (line) throughout the Hz to
indicate that testing could not be completed.
-
Repeat
the same procedure to test the left ear.
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