Why Use TomatisⓇ Bone Conduction for Your Baby
Bone conduction therapy can be very effective for babies and children, particularly those born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This includes:
- 50% of children with intellectual disabilities
- 12% of children with cerebral palsy
- 10% of children with autism spectrum disorder
TomatisⓇ therapy is particularly well-suited for babies because it can benefit an infant before the fontanels are closed. This extremely early intervention is crucial in providing therapy for developmental delays and hearing impairments.
In addition, this is a workable alternative to traditional headphones for babies and children who are sensitive to them for a variety of reasons:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty with the fit
- Discomfort with the sensation of certain features, like grommets, ear tubes
Case Study – Baby Gwen
She was born with severe to profound hearing loss in her right ear and was unable to sit up by herself, stand when held, crawl, or babble.
Gwen started TomatisⓇ therapy and within the first 1 hour and 45 minutes of treatment – which took place over 5 days – she demonstrated being able to sit up by herself, make faces, get up on her hands and knees to try to crawl, balance in various ways, and move across the room.
By day 8 she was looking in the mirror and recognizing herself and by day 12, her parent reported that she was communicating more. At day 20 she had begun to turn toward sounds, attempt more sounds, and sleep through the night.
After the first intensive session, which was 10 hours in total, she could crawl, stand with support, and babble and squeal to communicate. Gwen continued into a second intensive of 15 hours and began to explore her environment, gain weight, eat more, and say words like “dada.” By her fifth intensive, she was walking and running unassisted and as the seventh intensive was about to begin, she was jumping, singing, clapping, and talking almost nonstop.
Keeping Bone Conduction Safe for Babies
Bone conduction can be an amazing experience for your growing baby. Bone conduction is also very safe for babies, as long as you follow these best practices:
- Use a careful, gradual increase of time with the guidance of a bone conduction expert.
- Ensure the sound level is acceptable at all times.
- Change the bone conductor’s location slightly to prevent irritation.
- Monitor your baby’s reactions carefully and make adjustments along the way.
- Check your environment for new dangers that are accessible to a mobile baby.
Benefits and Improvements to Expect
Parents are always eager to hear about the improvements their child could experience through bone conduction therapy. To summarize the three biggest overall benefits, they are:
- Early auditory stimulation
- Stimulation of childhood developmental milestones
- Positive changes in vestibular function, movement, coordination, and speech
In fact, these improvements are often so fast and so deeply gratifying for parents, we recommend making video recordings to save these precious moments forever.
For More Information
To learn more about TomatisⓇ bone conduction, please contact A Total Approach. We offer a holistic developmental approach to therapy that respects each child’s individual needs.
(484) 840-1561
info@atotalapproach.com
A Total Approach
9 LaCrue Avenue, Suite 103
Glen Mills, Pa. 19342
