The following are some of the behaviors that have been reported as occurring during and shortly after AIT. Your child may or may not have any of these responses or may have responses that are not listed below.

• Changes in sleep, either wanting to sleep more and sleeping more soundly (80%+) or having
  difficulty sleeping ( usually only for a short time)
• Changes in toileting frequency, odor or control
• Improvement in eye contact and interaction with others, more socially appropriate
• Emotional changes- more crying, tantrums or needing attention
• Ear pain, redness, itchiness, or wax draining
• More verbal, more babbling or sound play, clearer speech, louder speech or talking all the time
• Less echo speech, more able to answer questions
• Noticing and responding to sound more. May be slightly overwhelmed by this new input
• Increased attention span and focus of attention
• More able to tolerate family outings and noisy environments
• Increase in ability to follow directions and cooperate
• More relaxed, happy, calm and peaceful
• More loving and accepting of hugs
• Increased ability to interact with peers, trying harder to be part of a group.
• Increased attention to siblings and family pets
• Better reading and phonic skills
• More singing
• Still hearing sound that used to bother them but not as bothered by sounds.
• Less fearful of new situations
• More independent and curious
• More or less aware of other senses, smell, touch, taste and vision
• More accepting of changes and transitions, less obsessive
• Reverting to old behaviors. This can look like regression but it’s usually the brain’s way of dealing with new information. Some children need to go backwards developmentally and fill in the missing pieces and then go forward. This seems to happen in spurts and can last up to three months post AIT.

PRECAUTIONS:

• It is VERY important that your child refrain from using headphones for music during and after AIT. Use of headphones for computer work or stories is fine. Use of an Auditory Trainer at school is fine, but the volume should be monitored carefully.
• It is also important to try to protect your child from loud or sudden noises for at least the first six months after AIT. I suggest you make sure they are removed from the classroom when a fire drill is planned. The loud, sudden noise of the fire alarm bell can be very damaging to children with auditory sensitivity.
• It’s fine to continue O.T., P.T and other therapies or program, particularly sensory integration and cranial sacral treatment. It’s best not to start any new programs or treatments for at least three months following AIT.
• If medication or diet changes are planned, they should be done before AIT and not changed in the first six months after AIT, if possible. The effect of some medications on the success of AIT is not clearly understood. Some medications, particularly anesthesia, can damage hearing. Please check with your pharmacy about possible hearing damage of medications.
• If you are planning family events that involve crowds or noisy situations in the first three months after AIT, you may want to have your child wear ear plugs or protective hearing headphones. If your child is having difficulty sleeping during or after AIT, soft ear plugs can also be helpful.
• If your child develops ear infections prior to or during AIT, please let me know promptly. We will have to stop AIT and wait for the ear infections to clear.