EXERCISES IN AUDITORY FIGURE GROUND, FILTERED WORDS, DICHOTIC LISTENING
iLs’ VoicePro with Interactive Language Activities provides a means to enhance sensory input (i.e. address subcortical functions) while addressing targeted auditory processing skills such as auditory figure ground, filtered words, repeating words and dichotic listening. The exercises can be customized per user ability level, and the immediate feedback through air and bone conduction headset with built-in microphone provides a unique training. The organizational components of speech and language are simultaneously addressed, as is one’s sense of self, as expressive language confidence builds. When employed by speech therapists, the VoicePro is typically used as a dynamic and integral component of speech therapy.

DECODING, PHONEMIC AWARENESS, READING
Decoding, phonemic awareness, listening in a noisy classroom and speaking clearly require efficient processing and storage of information. iLs processes classical music to emphasize different frequencies per therapeutic objectives. The goal is to train the ear and the brain to analyze and process sound more efficiently and accurately. For example, the iLs Reading/Auditory Processing Program focuses on the mid-range frequencies of the English language to train one’s ability to discriminate similar sounding phonemes, to process and differentiate rapid occurring speech sounds, and to improve inflection and rhythm in speaking and reading aloud.

VESTIBULAR FUNCTION
Directly connected to the cochlea of the inner ear, the vestibular system is primarily responsible for balance and coordination, but also has a strong impact on sensory modulation and emotional regulation. Once the vestibular system is functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. iLs provides specific and comprehensive stimulation to the vestibular system through bone conduction delivered via headphones, balance board activities, and body movement exercises.

PROCESSING INFORMATION, LEARNING NEW TASKS
The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain, but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons. In computer terms, the cerebellum is the processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity. Neuroscientists agree that the cerebellum is involved in motor functions, cognitive functions such as attention and emotional functions such as regulating fear and pleasure responses. The iLs Playbook’s repetitive activities are designed to stimulate cerebellar function. Inputs from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems, session after session, train the cerebellum to become efficient at processing multi-sensory information.

EMOTIONAL REGULATION, BODY AWARENESS
Directly connected to the cochlea of the inner ear, the vestibular system is primarily responsible for balance and coordination, but also has a strong impact on sensory modulation and emotional regulation. Once the vestibular system is functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. iLs provides specific and comprehensive stimulation to the vestibular system through bone conduction delivered via headphones, balance board activities, and body movement exercises.

SENSE OF CALM, “GROUNDED”
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many organs and muscles that work in an involuntary, reflexive manner. The ANS is important in 2 situations: emergencies that require us to “fight” or to take “flight” (the sympathetic SNS) and non-emergencies that allow us to “rest and digest” (the parasympathetic PNS). The iLs’ auditory program stimulates the parasympathetic system through the vagus nerve which influences our heart rate, sweating, mouth and throat muscles involved in speech, as well as our bowels and digestion. Many children and adults beginning iLs programs are in a state of hyper-arousal, not far from “fight or flight”. The gentle stimulation of the PNS brings about a balance of the ANS which is reflected by increased ability to express oneself calmly.

HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION
The brain defies categorization of function into neatly organized compartments but rather utilizes multiple areas simultaneously for any one function – auditory processing being a good example. Brain areas from front to back and from left to right are simultaneously involved in this activity. This requires precise, rapid and clear communication within and between hemispheres. The strength of the connection between hemispheres is enhanced through the duration of the listening and the repetitive exercises from the iLs Playbook.

Often, our educational interventions are putting a roof on a weak foundation. The acquisition of reading, writing, math and other academic skills is dependent upon a normally-developed nervous system. Communication between the brain’s two hemispheres and integration of sensory input from the eyes, ears and motor systems must be intact for adequate response to intervention (RTI). However, efficient processing doesn’t occur in an immature nervous system. By providing appropriate auditory, visual and vestibular stimulation, iLs helps the nervous system develop. This ability of the brain to change in response to stimulation is known as “neuroplasticity.” iLs builds a solid foundation for learning and communicating through repeated, gentle stimulation of the following systems:

VESTIBULAR
The vestibule in the inner ear plays a key role in our balance as well as our ability to modulate sensory input. In terms of learning and behavior, vestibular and prioprioceptive (see below) input tends to help children and adults become more regulated. Once regulated, they can more easily attend to higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. The balance activities and bone conduction stimulation of the iLs headphones provide different types of vestibular stimulation in each session.

Targeted Skills: coordination, balance, focus, self-regulation

AUDITORY
iLs processes classical music to emphasize different frequencies per therapeutic objectives. The goal is to train the ear and the brain to analyze and process sound more quickly and accurately. For example, the iLs Sensory Motor Program for those with autism and/or sensory processing challenges emphasizes a range of low frequencies which influence balance, rhythm, coordination and body awareness. The iLs Reading/Auditory Processing Program focuses on the mid-range frequencies of the English language to train one’s sense of pitch discrimination. As a result of repeated listening, the vestibulo-cochlear system improves its ability to transfer auditory information to the brain. Additionally, the bone conduction delivery in iLs headphones provides a unique stimulation to the vestibular system.

Targeted Skills: pitch discrimination, auditory processing, reading, mood, concentration and balance.

VISUAL MOTOR
iLs Playbook activities include visual tracking and visual perception activities in every session. The simultaneous exercising of these skills with balance and auditory training seems to have an exponential effect on reading and other related skills.

Targeted Skills: reading, hand/eye coordination, balance, sports

PROPRIOCEPTIVE
By improving the sense of one’s own body – where it is, how to control it, how to move it – to the point where we don’t need to think about it, we are freeing up the brain to focus on higher order activities. Children and adults who improve their proprioceptive abilities are able to approach learning and communication tasks in a more relaxed and regulated manner. iLs’ movement program focuses on building proprioceptive abilities with specific exercises in each session.

Targeted Skills: attention, calm, athletics, coordination, daily movement, confidence

PARASYMPATHETIC
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many organs and muscles that work in an involuntary, reflexive manner. The ANS is important in 2 situations: emergencies that require us to “fight” or to take “flight” and non-emergencies that allow us to “rest and digest.” The part of the ANS which governs the latter is the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). iLs’ auditory program stimulates the PNS through the vagus nerve (afferent fibers in the outer ear). Many children and adults beginning iLs programs are in a state of hyper-arousal, not far from “fight or flight.” The gentle stimulation of the PNS brings about a balance of the ANS which is reflected by increased calm and self-regulation.

Targeted Skills: behavior; ability to focus; the calm state which allows one to better focus on higher cognitive functions

CEREBELLUM
The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons. In computer terms, it’s our processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity. Most neuroscientists agree it is involved in motor functions, cognitive functions such as attention and emotional functions such as regulating fear and pleasure responses. The iLs Playbook’s repetitive activities are believed to stimulate cerebellar function. Inputs from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems, session after session, train the cerebellum to become efficient at processing multi-sensory information.

Targeted Skills: motor control; “automaticity” (motor activities becoming automatic); processing

HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION
Receptors in the body deliver sensory information to the brain (and vice versa). If these receptors and the pathways leading up to the brain are not working because they were damaged or did not develop properly, the activity level of the brain decreases and different areas of the brain may not communicate with each other properly. In addition, the right and left sides of the brain must be balanced in order to allow for proper communication to take place between the different areas involved in higher brain function. Cross-lateral activities in the Playbook require the almost constant transfer of information from one hemisphere to the other, “exercising” the bridge that transfers information, the corpus callosum.

Targeted Skills: processing speed, cognitive functions, emotional health

AUDITORY TRAINING
The adage “we read with our ears” holds much truth, but is often ignored in reading programs. Decoding and phonemic awareness require efficient processing and storage of auditory information. iLs trains the auditory channel for efficiency and accuracy through repeated listening and movement sessions. The goal is to activate the relevant neuronal connections and ultimately train the ear and the brain to analyze and process language frequencies simultaneous to movement (replicating daily life where our visual and auditory systems are expected to be simultaneously functional).

VISUAL TRAINING
The subcortical visual motor system has direct neural connections to the auditory and vestibular systems. All three of these systems must work together for proper balance, coordination, reading and sound localization. iLs programs activate these systems with visual tracking and visual perception exercises; in fact, ocular motor improvement ranks as one of the consistently strongest areas of change resulting from iLs programs.

ATTENTION & FOCUS
Brain scans of ADHD individuals show the cortex as being hypo- or under-active, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. This suggests that the cortex is the source of the problem, which is not necessarily the case. In fact, the cortical (higher brain) function in ADHD individuals is usually normal. The problem is that there is insufficient input getting to the cortex. Higher brain functions such as reading are dependent upon adequate input from the brain stem and cerebellum. iLs’ combined sound/movement approach stimulates sub-cortical activity, improving the ability of brain stem and cerebellum to process sensory information leading to the cortex.

PROCESSING INFORMATION, LEARNING NEW TASKS
The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain, but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons. In computer terms, the cerebellum is the processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity. Neuroscientists agree that the cerebellum is involved in motor functions, cognitive functions such as attention and emotional functions such as regulating fear and pleasure responses. The iLs Playbook’s repetitive activities are designed to stimulate cerebellar function. Inputs from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems, session after session, train the cerebellum to become efficient at processing multi-sensory information.

EMOTIONAL REGULATION, BODY AWARENESS
Directly connected to the cochlea of the inner ear, the vestibular system is primarily responsible for balance and coordination, but also has a strong impact on sensory modulation and emotional regulation. Once the vestibular system is functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. iLs provides specific and comprehensive stimulation to the vestibular system through bone conduction delivered via headphones, balance board activities, and body movement exercises.

SENSE OF CALM, “GROUNDED”
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many organs and muscles that work in an involuntary, reflexive manner. The ANS is important in 2 situations: emergencies that require us to “fight” or to take “flight” (the sympathetic SNS) and non-emergencies that allow us to “rest and digest” (the parasympathetic PNS). Many children and adults beginning iLs programs are in a state of hyper-arousal, not far from “fight or flight”. The gentle stimulation of the PNS brings about a balance of the ANS which is reflected by increased calm and self-regulation, allowing one to focus more effectively on language, learning and other cognitive tasks.

HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION
The brain defies categorization of function into neatly organized compartments but rather utilizes multiple areas simultaneously for any one function – reading being a good example. Brain areas from front to back and from left to right are simultaneously involved in this activity. This requires precise, rapid and clear communication within and between hemispheres. The strength of the connection between hemispheres is enhanced through the duration of the listening and the repetitive exercises from the iLs Playbook.

ALERTNESS, ATTENTION, AND A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons deep in the brainstem that receives input from all sensory systems. It sends nonspecific information to the brain to “wake it up”. It is involved with regulating arousal and sleep-wake transitions, alertness, appropriate arousal to attend to the task at hand, and even prepares the motor system for action. Clinical evidence shows that iLs multi-sensory training consistently improves arousal level as well as sleep patterns.

COORDINATION, BALANCE, SENSORY MODULATION
Directly connected to the cochlea of the inner ear, the vestibular system is responsible for balance, coordination, muscle tone, rhythm and awareness of the body in space. It plays a key role in organizing motor output and posture. The vestibular system, along with proprioceptive inputs, also has a strong impact on attention and emotional regulation. Once these systems are functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. iLs provides specific and comprehensive stimulation to the vestibular system through bone conduction delivered via headphones, balance board activities, and body movement exercises.

CALM, SELF-REGULATION
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many organs and muscles that work in an involuntary, reflexive manner. The ANS is important in 2 situations: emergencies that require us to “fight” or to take “flight” (the sympathetic SNS) and non-emergencies that allow us to “rest and digest” (the parasympathetic PNS). The iLs’ auditory program stimulates the parasympathetic system through the vagus nerve (afferent fibers on the eardrum and in the outer ear canal) which descends from the brain all the way to the intestinal tract. The vagus nerve influences our heart rate, sweating, mouth and throat muscles involved in speech, as well as our bowels and digestion. Many children and adults beginning iLs programs are in a state of hyper-arousal, not far from “fight or flight”. The gentle stimulation of the PNS brings about a balance of the ANS which is reflected by increased calm and self-regulation.

PROCESSING SENSORY, COGNITIVE & EMOTIONAL INFORMATION
The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons. In computer terms, the cerebellum is the processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity. Most neuroscientists agree that the cerebellum is involved in motor functions, cognitive functions such as attention and emotional functions such as regulating fear and pleasure responses. The iLs Playbook’s repetitive activities are designed to stimulate cerebellar function. Inputs from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems, session after session, train the cerebellum to become efficient at processing multi-sensory information.

AROUSAL, SLEEP PATTERNS
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons deep in the brainstem that receives input from all sensory systems. It sends nonspecific information to the brain to “wake it up”. It is involved with regulating arousal and sleep-wake transitions, alertness, appropriate arousal to attend to the task at hand, and even prepares the motor system for action. The RAS is engaged through iLs’ multi-sensory training.

SENSE OF ONE’S BODY IN SPACE, MOTOR PLANNING, LEARNING
The sense of one’s own body — where it is, how to control it, how to move it — to the point where we don’t need to think about it, comes from the receptors in our joints and muscles and is referred to as proprioception. This is an often overlooked sensory system that contributes to behavior and the ability to learn. When this system is integrated with the other sensory systems, the brain is freed up to focus on higher order activities. Children and adults who improve their proprioceptive abilities are able to approach learning and communication tasks in a more relaxed and regulated manner. iLs’ movement program focuses on building proprioceptive abilities through specific, repetitive movement exercises.

LISTENING, CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE, SOCIAL SUCCESS
Decoding, phonemic awareness, listening in a noisy environment and speaking clearly require efficient processing and storage of information. iLs strives to maximize efficiency and accuracy of the auditory channel by providing carefully calibrated auditory stimulation to meet specific therapeutic objectives. The goal is to activate the neuronal connections in different areas of the brain through the auditory channel and ultimately train the ear and the brain to analyze and process sound more quickly and accurately. Air/bone conduction headphones are utilized in iLs programs to deliver unique and efficient stimulation of the auditory and vestibular systems.

READING, HAND/EYE COORDINATION
The subcortical visual motor system has direct neural connections to the auditory and vestibular systems. All three of these systems must work together for proper balance, coordination, reading and sound localization. iLs activates these systems with visual tracking and visual perception exercises in addition to auditory and vestibular system inputs.

DECODING, PHONEMIC AWARENESS, LISTENING AMIDST NOISE
Decoding, phonemic awareness, listening in a noisy environment and speaking clearly require efficient processing and storage of information. iLs programs maximize efficiency and accuracy of the auditory channel through carefully calibrated auditory stimulation. Through repeated exercises, the neuronal connections of the auditory channel are trained to analyze and process sound more quickly and accurately. Bone/air conduction headphones deliver unique and efficient stimulation of the auditory and vestibular systems. Exercises in auditory figure ground, filtered words, repeating words and dichotic listening focus on skills related to auditory processing.

IMPROVED EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE
iLs’ VoicePro with Interactive Language Activities provides a means to enhance sensory input (i.e. address subcortical functions) while continuing to address targeted speech-language and voicing goals, enhance auditory and language processing skills, and address the organizational components of speech and language. Social skills can also improve through the use of iLs’ air and bone conduction headset with built-in microphone when it is used as an interactive tool. When employed by speech therapists, the VoicePro is typically used as a dynamic and integral component of speech therapy.

PROCESSING INFORMATION, LEARNING NEW TASKS
The cerebellum is 10% of the weight of the brain, but it has 50% of the brain’s neurons. In computer terms, the cerebellum is the processor, receiving input from sensory systems and various parts of the brain, and integrating these inputs to fine tune motor activity. Neuroscientists agree that the cerebellum is involved in motor functions, cognitive functions such as attention and emotional functions such as regulating fear and pleasure responses. The iLs Playbook’s repetitive activities are designed to stimulate cerebellar function. Inputs from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems, session after session, train the cerebellum to become efficient at processing multi-sensory information.

EMOTIONAL REGULATION, BODY AWARENESS
Directly connected to the cochlea of the inner ear, the vestibular system is primarily responsible for balance and coordination, but also has a strong impact on sensory modulation and emotional regulation. Once the vestibular system is functioning well, children are better able to participate in higher brain functions such as reading, writing and expressive language. iLs provides specific and comprehensive stimulation to the vestibular system through bone conduction delivered via headphones, balance board activities, and body movement exercises.

MOTOR PLANNING, REGULATION, AWARENESS OF PERSONAL SPACE
The sense of one’s own body — where it is, how to control it, how to move it — to the point where we don’t need to think about it, comes from the receptors in our joints and muscles and is referred to as proprioception. This is an often overlooked sensory system that contributes to behavior and the ability to focus on language tasks. When this system is integrated with the other sensory systems, the brain is freed up to focus on higher order activities. Children and adults who improve their proprioceptive abilities are able to approach learning and communication tasks in a more relaxed and regulated manner. iLs’ movement program focuses on building proprioceptive abilities through specific, repetitive exercises.

SENSE OF CALM, “GROUNDED”
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many organs and muscles that work in an involuntary, reflexive manner. The ANS is important in 2 situations: emergencies that require us to “fight” or to take “flight” (the sympathetic SNS) and non-emergencies that allow us to “rest and digest” (the parasympathetic PNS). The iLs’ auditory program stimulates the parasympathetic system through the vagus nerve which influences our heart rate, sweating, mouth and throat muscles involved in speech, as well as our bowels and digestion. Many children and adults beginning iLs programs are in a state of hyper-arousal, not far from “fight or flight”. The gentle stimulation of the PNS brings about a balance of the ANS which is reflected by increased ability to express oneself calmly.

HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION
The brain defies categorization of function into neatly organized compartments but rather utilizes multiple areas simultaneously for any one function – reading being a good example. Brain areas from front to back and from left to right are simultaneously involved in this activity. This requires precise, rapid and clear communication within and between hemispheres. The strength of the connection between hemispheres is enhanced through the duration of the listening and the repetitive exercises from the iLs Playbook.