Research

A Comparative Study of AIT Devices: The Earducator and Auditory Integration Modulator (AIM)

An AIT sound stimulation system, known as the Auditory Integration Modulator (AIM) was developed in Spain by WHAT Education System. In order for equipment to be approved for use with the Berard AIT method, a comparison study must be completed to determine if the new equipment produces results equivalent to that achieved by the current equipment being used. Upon request by the manufacturer of the AIM, a clinical comparison study was conducted in order to evaluate the benefits of the AIM compared with the Earducator. The results from the study show particularly good agreement between the performance of the two devices. Therefore, the AIM has been approved as a Berard AIT device and is available to Berard AIT Practitioners.

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Electrophysiological & Behavioral Outcomes of Berard AIT

Research by Drs. Manuel Casanova and Estate (Tato) M. Sokhadze, two of the top psychophysiological autism researchers in the world. Dr. Casanova explains that with the help of the computer and electrophysiological recordings that measure response of the brain to various stimuli at very fast recording speed, they were able to assess that autistic individuals live in a world of confusion, at least from the auditory perspective. They also show that Berard AIT helped ease the confusion and normalize how the brain perceives unexpected stimuli.

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Berard Auditory Integration Training: Behavior Changes Related to Sensory Modulation

Research on changes in behaviors and sensory modulation after Berard AIT, published in peer-reviewed journal, Autism Insights. Scores on the Short Sensory Profile and Aberrant Behavior Checklist significantly improved in a group of 54 children who received Berard AIT.

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The Effects of Auditory Integration Training (AIT) on Mismatch Negativity in Children with Autism (Published 2014)

Our study supports the suggestion that Berard AIT positively affects auditory stimulus processing reflected both in early (MMN) and late (P2, P3a) evoked potentials. The study contributes to the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying auditory integration training in autism.

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Study on the Correlation between Hearing Quality and Learning Ability (2001)

The researcher verified Dr. Berard’s hypothesis that hearing quality is so important for classroom activity that learning success and failure depend on its level. Three student groups were studied and the overall conclusion is: if a student’s grades are consistently low, you can guess that her/his hearing quality is poor. If an audio test shows that a child has a poor hearing quality, most probably she/he is not among the top students.

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Auditory Integration Training: A Double-Blind Study of Behavioral, Electro-physiological, and Audiometric Effects in Autistic Subjects (Published 1999)

AIT was reported to produce both behavioral improvement and normalization of brain wave activity. The behavioral changes on the ABC-1 are consistent with those obtained in a previous study (Rimland & Edelson, 1995, Section A, #10). Although the electrophysiological findings are encouraging, they are based on a total of only five subjects. An audiologist was able to assign correctly 10 of the 15 subjects for whom partial data were available to the treated and non-treated groups, on a ‘blind’ basis.

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Epileptic Activity in Autism and Acquired Aphasia: A Study Using Magneto-Encephalography (Published 1997)

Baseline recordings demonstrated larger than normal responses in the areas associated with hyperacusis. Following AIT, a more normalized balance or symmetry in electrical activity was observed. These findings document physiological changes due to AIT; however, there were only two subjects in the study and no control group.

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Berard AIT Supports Speed Reading Training Program: The Marmara Project (2015)

Results confirm the hypothesis that Berard AIT improves speed reading training by enhancing the results of reading attention span, peripheral vision, reading rate, and reading comprehension. Although this is a small study, the value of Berard AIT for reading enhancement is strongly indicated.

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Berard AIT Supports Memory Training Program: The Mediterranean Project (2013)

A study with 66 subjects was divided into 2 groups. One group was the control and only received memory training. The second group received Berard AIT before the memory training. The subjects who received Berard AIT before memory training, scored significantly higher on post- tests.

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The Berard AIT Method and Attention Disorders and Behavior Disorders – A Pilot Study (2015)

A study with 53 clients found statistically significant improvements measured for: Connors’ Global Index, DSM Index, hyperactivity. Important results were shown also in the anxiety-shyness scale, perfectionism, and ADHD.

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The Efficacy of Auditory Integration Training: Tabulated Summaries of 28 Reports, (January, 1993 – August, 2004)

The present review covers 28 reports on AIT. Twenty-three reports concluded that AIT benefits various population subgroups, three studies claim to show no benefit (or no benefit over that seen in a control group), and two studies reported rather ambiguous or contradictory results. Considering the great difficulties in both providing a credible placebo treatment and assessing improvement in the subject populations, these results are quite encouraging. The balance of the evidence clearly favors AIT as a useful intervention, especially in autism.

To read summaries of these reports click here.
To read Tabulated summary click here.