The goal of Berard Auditory Integration Training (AIT) is to help your child overcome hypersensitivity or difficulty hearing sound at certain pitches and frequencies through listening practice geared to building his tolerance to sounds and listening acuity. The program can help children who have attention deficits, autism, or central auditory processing disorder, as well as dyslexia.

Your child may benefit from this approach if he appears to have difficulty listening to or following directions, if he seems to have a tendency to zone out or daydream, or if he is unusually sensitive or distraught by loud noises or sounds within certain frequencies.

Dr. Guy Berard, the developer of AIT, believes that auditory processing problems are caused by hypersensitive hearing. He developed a special electronic device, called an Audiokinetron, that randomizes and filters music frequencies.

The theory behind the program is that the acoustic reflex muscle can be exercised by listening to varying pitches and frequencies, and that through such exercise, pain or sensitivity to loud noises or certain frequencies is reduced, and the pathways in the brain that transmit and respond to sound are stimulated. Your child listens to electronically altered pop music over the course of 20 sessions, each involving 30 minutes of listening time; ideally this is done in two daily sessions over the course of 10 consecutive days.

At the end of the training, your child's hearing should show significant improvement, with most frequencies being perceived within normal ranges. This should be reflected in behavioral changes, some of which may be observed immediately. Other changes will become evident over a period of 3 to 6 months following treatment, as your child's overall functioning improves in response to his improved hearing ability.