My two sons' listening program
After reading Norman Doidge’s book “The Brain’s Way of Healing,” I brought my sons to the Listening Centre for their quite different developmental challenges.
My younger son, aged 3, had just been diagnosed with ASD and had a severe speech delay. My older son aged 6, with ADD and Auditory Processing Disorder. Home and school life for the two was abysmal.
Paul Madaule saw beyond their diagnoses, he saw them as children, and he saw their potential. Their treatment was tailored to each of their needs and their responses were markedly different.
After the first two sessions my younger son slept for what seems likes days. Over the next few days speech started to emerge. There were improvements in eye contact and the tantrums declined. Two weeks later he has potty trained himself. But most importantly, there was now a desire to be social and communicate. This change in his disposition allowed him to learn the skills he was lacking from others in his age group.
My older boy’s response was quite the opposite – his results were slower and subtler, but significant. A week into the therapy he became very hyper and agitated. The Listening Centre told me that this was a process that must take its course. And it did. My son emerged with better social skills, and improved listening and attention in the classroom. His fine motor skills (handwriting) were stronger and the bed-wetting had stopped. He now has the confidence that was sorely lacking.
Throughout the process the staff at the Listening Centre have been amazingly supportive - answering all my questions, following up on the boys’ progress and providing suggestions and advice on how they can maximize their learning at school. It was the support my family needed during this difficult time. Last year I took the boys for a ‘boost’ and saw a spike in their learning and improvements in focus and attention.
My younger son is now attending grade one is a neurotypical classroom and thriving. He is inquisitive, thoughtful and has a busy social circle. He is reading at a grade 3 level and people question his diagnosis. My older son is now in grade 3 and is being viewed as ‘gifted,’ something I believe he always was, but was blocked by the ‘noise’ in his brain. The noise that was calmed by the listening therapy.
I put my faith in the principles of neuroplasticity and belief that music can heal. I was not disappointed. I believe, without a doubt, that Paul and the dedicated staff at the Listening Centre have changed my children’s life trajectory for the better. And I am grateful.