AIT General
Information
I. Minimum age limit for AIT is three years old
II.
Schedule of
Listening Sessions
1.
Two 30-minute
listening sessions a day for ten days. Options include:
a.
10 straight days,
or
b.
5 days, one day
break, 5 days, or
c.
5 days, two day
break, 5 days.
NOTE: The two sessions conducted each day should be separated
by an interval of at least three hours.
III.
In case of
illness
a.
less than one
week, AIT will continue where we left off for the remaining sessions.
b.
more than one
week, begin the full 10 day AIT over again
NOTE:
If the illness is an ear infection, AIT
will stop immediately. The trainee should seek medical treatment from a health
professional. After the infection has cleared up, AIT will be resumed.
a.
less than one
month, AIT will continue where we left off for the remaining sessions.
b.
more than one
month, begin AIT over again.
IV.
During AIT
1.
Sleeping: AIT
sometimes causes sleepiness during a session. The trainee should remain awake
during the entire session.
2.
Reading: Should
not be done during listening sessions.
3.
Playing with
toys: Large stuffed animals are OK. The trainee should not engage in activities
that utilize fine motor skills, such as playing with puzzles, drawing, etc.
4.
School/job/therapies
during an AIT program: AIT should be conducted with the trainee under as little
stress as possible. If school, work, or therapies are stressful or cause
excessive tiredness, the trainee should, if possible, suspend these other
activities during the ten days of AIT.
V.
Potential Side
Effects
AIT is essentially a form of music therapy and has
been given to thousands of individuals with only minor, temporary side effects.
The most common are fatigue, insomnia, headaches, nausea, irritability, and
aggressiveness.
VI.
Activities after
AIT
1. Headphones should not be worn for listening to music following AIT, with the exception to hearing assessments or spoken-word educational recordings, for at least one year.
VII.
An AIT program
should not be undertaken again less than six months after the first series of
listening sessions, unless advised by Dr. Kirby or one of his authorized
practitioners.
PLEASE NOTE: AIT should not be conducted in the
presence of PE tubes, ear infection, or perforated eardrum. Make sure to consult
a qualified health professional before beginning AIT listening sessions.