Local autistic boy making greats strides with music therapy
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REDMOND, Wash. -- One in 50 school-aged kids has an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control.
Health officials say the new information doesn't indicate more children have autism, but shows that doctors are more frequently diagnosing the disorder.
The statistics can be demoralizing, but a recent autism breakthrough is music to one Redmond child's ears.
When Sasha Chigirinskiy began occupational therapy he was easily irritable and inattentive.
"He'd be screaming, crying, refusing to participate," said occupational therapist Doreen Hunt.
Nearly two years later, the autistic 5-year-old who couldn't catch a ball or balance on a scooter is a different kid.
"Little things improved so much during last two years. He really believes in his body," said Sasha's father, Eugene.
The change started when Sasha put on a pair of headphones and heard the soothing sounds of Mozart. The music is part of ILS, or Integrated Listening Systems. The theory is that different classical or orchestral songs develop different parts of the brain.
"The music is specifically designed and altered in a sound studio to give him both his body and his brain the kind of sound input he needs," Hunt said.
Performing simple activities while listening to low frequencies found in Gregorian chants and cellos improves balance, coordination and core strength. Low frequencies are filtered out and higher frequencies come in to improve communication and attention.
"He can communicate when he's mad instead of screaming, yelling and running away," Hunt said.
Headphone vibrations send information through the kindergartener's bones to muscle and inner ear for balance.
Sasha's struggles are now fewer.
"Two years ago he couldn't even draw the line," Eugene said. "Now he can actually write letters. He can write his name, which is great."
Before the music, Sasha's parents feared for his future. Today, they're singing a different tune.
"This is great. Actually, this is hope," Eugene said.
Hunt said ILS uses mostly Mozart because the compositions are "well rounded," with highs and lows that even when filtered still sound like music.
Health officials say the new information doesn't indicate more children have autism, but shows that doctors are more frequently diagnosing the disorder.
The statistics can be demoralizing, but a recent autism breakthrough is music to one Redmond child's ears.
When Sasha Chigirinskiy began occupational therapy he was easily irritable and inattentive.
"He'd be screaming, crying, refusing to participate," said occupational therapist Doreen Hunt.
Nearly two years later, the autistic 5-year-old who couldn't catch a ball or balance on a scooter is a different kid.
"Little things improved so much during last two years. He really believes in his body," said Sasha's father, Eugene.
The change started when Sasha put on a pair of headphones and heard the soothing sounds of Mozart. The music is part of ILS, or Integrated Listening Systems. The theory is that different classical or orchestral songs develop different parts of the brain.
"The music is specifically designed and altered in a sound studio to give him both his body and his brain the kind of sound input he needs," Hunt said.
Performing simple activities while listening to low frequencies found in Gregorian chants and cellos improves balance, coordination and core strength. Low frequencies are filtered out and higher frequencies come in to improve communication and attention.
"He can communicate when he's mad instead of screaming, yelling and running away," Hunt said.
Headphone vibrations send information through the kindergartener's bones to muscle and inner ear for balance.
Sasha's struggles are now fewer.
"Two years ago he couldn't even draw the line," Eugene said. "Now he can actually write letters. He can write his name, which is great."
Before the music, Sasha's parents feared for his future. Today, they're singing a different tune.
"This is great. Actually, this is hope," Eugene said.
Hunt said ILS uses mostly Mozart because the compositions are "well rounded," with highs and lows that even when filtered still sound like music.
Therapist and teachers, caregivers of Autistic children are the angels. My son is 5 and autistic. He does not speak, yet he uses sign language. Thank you for your constant dedication and love to our children. You are the heroes in our lives. My sons teachers have given us hope and the ability to help our children. For that I thank you!!Â
My daughter used to have migraines every two weeks until we did the sound therapy, now she only has them every few months. What a huge improvement! It was the best thing we have ever done for her!
@bzb I'd be interested in knowing what sound therapies are available for migraines. I have relatives that get migraines. I don't get them per se, just sinus headaches that are migraine level sometimes.
@Commenter87643 I believe my daughters migraines were mostly due to sensory integration issues, and some food sensitivities. I'm not so sure it would help with any migraine. But she listened to "The Listening Program - Level 1 Kit" from Advanced Brain Technologies. Hope that helps
@bzb @Commenter87643 Thanks! That's got to be far safer than any of the host of drug remedies! :)
@bzb Very interesting!
@Thunder the best explanation I received was from a friend who is an OT. She suggested the therapy because my daughter was displaying some characteristics of not being able to integrate sounds. Her migraines came on most frequently after long periods of being exposed to certain sounds, especially large crowds of people carrying on conversations in big rooms. Normally our brain blurs all the sounds into one white noise, but I think she was not able to do that. Now she has no problem with it.
There are, however, students with autism that will flat out refuse to wear headphones for sensory reasons. It is also shown that 'typical functioning' people do better when listening to calming music.
Demoralizing? Â What a term. Â Do you think an autism diagnosis is demoralizing? Â The definition of demoralizing is this:Â To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten. Â Wow. Â You know Brian Wilson from the beach boys was introduced to Gershwin at the age of 2. Â I don't think that Brian Wilson fits into the societies mold of "normal", and he has always been a bit quirky. Â Perhaps he was autistic. Â I don't think that becoming one of the biggest musical genius's of all time is demoralizing. Â I think we all need to put it into perspective and stop analyzing every little tiny attribute of our children and just finding their strengths and giving them the support they need regardless of their differences.
Huh! Wouldn't it be interesting if autism were caused by what we HEAR rather than what we eat, or get vaccinated with, or any of the other 'evil' things that supposedly cause autism?
@Commenter87643 That would be interesting but what about cases of twins where 1 is autistic and the other isn't? I believe (and I may be wrong) that some people contain a gene mutation that when exposed to a certain chemical causes autism- I do know of kids who were fine until around age 2 when they got their 2 yr shots, and I know of kids who showed symptoms much earlier. No matter what causes autism I hope someday soon there is a cure. My son has aspergers, and I used to be a caregiver for children with full blown autism.Â