How Therapeutic Listening Helps Kids with Sensory Challenges (Including Autism!)

Hi, I’m Alicia Clark, a mother of three wonderful children, a licensed pediatric occupational therapist, and the founder of Faith and Function. I am also a certified Therapeutic Listening provider, using my expertise to help children improve sensory processing and regulation through sound-based interventions. I am also Autism certified and hold a certification in Astronaut Training. With over 18 years of experience supporting healthcare professionals, educators, children, and families with sensory processing challenges, I’m passionate about helping families navigate the factors that impact behavior and development.

Sensory challenges are common among children, impacting everything from attention and emotional regulation to movement and daily routines. In the first post of our three-part series, we explored sensory strategies for children with autism and highlighted the critical role of sensory input in self-regulation.

One often overlooked but highly effective sensory tool is Therapeutic Listening—a sound-based intervention that uses specially engineered music to support sensory processing and nervous system regulation. By targeting the auditory system, this approach helps children improve attention, coordination, and self-regulation.

Therapeutic Listening is commonly used for children with:
✔ Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
✔ Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
✔ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
✔ Motor planning difficulties
✔ Emotional and behavioral regulation challenges

But how does it work? And how can parents integrate it into their child’s daily routine? This guide will break down the essentials of Therapeutic Listening, who it helps, and practical ways to introduce it at home.

 What is Therapeutic Listening?

Therapeutic Listening is a sound-based intervention that uses specially engineered music to help children regulate their sensory systems. This program builds on the understanding that the auditory system plays a key role in organizing the nervous system. The specific frequencies and modulations in the music stimulate the brain, helping children improve their attention, coordination, and overall sensory processing.

Unlike background music or white noise machines, Therapeutic Listening is highly individualized and requires specific headphones, modulated music and a trained therapist to guide its use.

How Therapeutic Listening Works

Therapeutic Listening involves the use of special headphones and carefully selected music designed to help with sensory processing. The process typically follows these steps:

1. Assessment by a Certified Therapist – As a certified Therapeutic Listening provider, I assess the child's sensory profile and determine if the program is a good fit, tailoring the approach to their unique needs.
   
   
2. Custom Listening Program – The therapist selects specific soundtracks that are played through bone-conducting headphones (which send sound through vibrations rather than just through the ears) or high-quality over-ear headphones.
   
   
3. Scheduled Listening Sessions – The child listens to the music twice a day for 15-30 minutes, integrated into daily activities.
   
   
4. Observing and Adjusting – Parents and therapists watch how the child responds, making small changes if needed to keep it helpful and comfortable.
   
   Therapeutic Listening helps the brain fine-tune sensory input, leading to improvements in attention, body awareness, coordination, and emotional regulation.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Therapeutic Listening

If your child experiences any of the following, Therapeutic Listening may be a valuable tool:

• Sensory-Seeking or Sensory-Avoiding Behaviors – Overreacting to sounds or seeking excessive noise.
• Emotional Regulation Difficulties – Frequent meltdowns, difficulty with transitions, or heightened anxiety.
• Struggles with coordination – Difficulty with balance, frequent falls, or seeming clumsy.
• Difficulty with Focus and Attention – Struggling to concentrate, easily distracted, or unable to sit still.
• Speech and Communication Delays – Difficulty processing verbal instructions or delayed expressive language.
  
  These challenges indicate that auditory processing might not be effectively organizing sensory input, making Therapeutic Listening a powerful intervention.

How to Introduce Therapeutic Listening at Home

Integrating Therapeutic Listening into a child’s daily routine is a structured process. Here’s how to get started:

1. Consult an Occupational Therapist – Since Therapeutic Listening is a professional intervention, it’s important to have guidance on selecting the right music and schedule.
   
   
2. Create a Routine – Sessions typically last 15-30 minutes, twice a day and should be incorporated into calm activities like drawing, building, or gentle movement exercises.
   
   
3. Use High-Quality Headphones – The right headphones ensure that the sound frequencies are received correctly.
   
   
4. Monitor Changes – Keep track of behavioral, emotional, and sensory responses to determine effectiveness.
   
   
5. Adjust as Needed – If your child seems overwhelmed or isn’t responding as expected

Success Stories: Real Changes with Therapeutic Listening

Many parents and therapists have seen remarkable transformations in children who use Therapeutic Listening. Some common improvements include:

• Increased Attention & Focus – Children who struggled to sit through activities became more engaged and present.
• Better Emotional Regulation – Decreased meltdowns and improved ability to transition between tasks.
• Improved Motor Coordination – Children became more confident in physical activities like climbing, running, and jumping.
• Enhanced Communication – Some children developed better speech clarity and understanding of verbal instructions.
• Every child responds differently, but with consistency and the right support, Therapeutic Listening can be a game-changer for sensory regulation.

When to Seek Professional Support

As a certified Therapeutic Listening provider, I can help you determine if this intervention is the right fit for your child. If you're ready to take the next steps, contact me today at 866-832-1708 to schedule a consultation. You can also visit my website at Faithandfunction.info to learn more about how I can support your child's sensory needs.

Additionally, explore more resources to support sensory regulation:

Take Control of Sensory Overload: Preventing Meltdowns Before They Happen
The Benefits of Seasonal Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Sensory Strategies to Help Children with Autism
Red Dye and Sensory Sensitivities: What You Need to Know

Conclusion & What’s Next in the Series

Therapeutic Listening is a powerful tool for children with sensory processing challenges, helping to regulate sensory input and improve focus, communication, and emotional regulation. By integrating it into daily routines and working with a trained professional, parents can help their children achieve greater sensory success.

In the next and final post of this series, we’ll explore Astronaut Training and how movement can make a difference by integrating the vestibular, auditory, and visual systems. This approach provides even more strategies to support sensory development in children with autism and sensory processing challenges. Stay tuned!