Services
Interactive Metronome
Most of the current research are focused on attention and learning disabilities and our children often report increased ability to "think, concentrate, write and verbalize" their thoughts. We attended the recent national conference in Florida this summer (2005) and were greatly impressed with the high level of research that have been conducted during the recent years. We will add this new information as soon as the papers are published.
The program consists of great rigor and it is important to complete the required the repetitions as much you can in a given hour session. We typically start assessing children for this program after they turned 6 years old, but as usual, there are always exceptions to the rule! Parents mostly report on increased writing and reading ability as well as increased ability to verbalize daily happenings and emotions.
During the extensive 12 or 15-day regimen, we physically observe the body change from exhibiting contraphasic and ballistic movements to movements that are fluid and rhythmical. After completion of the program, children are observed to show increased awareness of their surroundings, appear more organized and indicate an observable change in their self-esteem and their ability to feel in "control" of their body. The mind and body has increased their ability to function "in-sync".
Many children with pervasive developmental disorders have completed this program. It has to be adapted according to their individual profile and knowledge of sensory integration and sensory modulation and adapting the program accordingly, is essential. They typically complete this program after extensive sensory integration therapy, which could have also included Tomatis training or Therapeutic Listening.
Interactive Metronome Services at A Total Approach
- The Interactive Metronome Assessment consists of a 14-exercise protocol with the option of an attention over time test. The assessment is typically scheduled for two hours and includes a parent / child interview and clinical observations.
- The family receives a printout of the results of his interactive metronome testing on the date of the assessment.
- The basic treatment protocol consists of 12 or 15 days, though depending on the individual profile of the child, a decision may include extended training or requiring the child to participate in sensory integration training prior to commencing on the program.
- We also include, where applicable, interactive metronome training during our sensory integration sessions to work on motor planning, sequencing, rhythmiticity and timing goals or also to prepare for the rigor of the full protocol.
- Depending on the profile of the child an interactive metronome assessment may also be included in our comprehensive evaluation.
- The child has to attend the center for a minimum of 3x per week for the duration of his program and this high frequency is viewed as important to the effective outcome of the program.
