If he can hear me, why doesn’t he listen?

Hearing is one thing – you hear with your ears.

Listening is another - you listen with your brain

The listening environment has changed; todays children are:

“awash in a cosmic soup of language, numbers , images, music, and drama. Television, radio, movies, billboards, print media, electronic media, packaging, grocery stores, malls, and restaurants” all require them to become expert users of multiple symbol systems used to represent ideas, feelings, and events” (Berghoff, 1997)

A form of communication that involves hearing, interpreting and constructing meanings; an active process that is not limited to the spoken word; and an essential way of participating in daily routines as well as wider decision-making (Clark, 2005)

A Definition of Listening

Developing hearing

Language learning begins in the womb:…..babies begin to absorb language when they are inside the womb during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. Newborns can tell the difference between their mother’s native tongue and foreign languages just hours after they are born.“…. new moms! your babies are listening, learning and remembering during the last stages of pregnancy. Their brains do not wait for birth to start absorbing information,” Patricia K. Kuhl

A baby’s hearing mechanism is fully developed before he is born. By 3 months he will respond to familiar voices and sounds

and be babbling and enjoying the sound of his own voice By 4 months, he will watch your face when you are talking,

and react excitedly to songs and sounds he enjoys By 6 months he will look around to seek out where sounds

come from, and show interest in new sounds, and know what ‘NO!” means.

By 12 months he will join in with songs and play – chat, and respond to sounds with understanding of what they mean.

A baby’s developing hearing

The classical Chinese Character for Listening

Dr Jean Ayres Brain - based theory of behaviour Sensory processing affects child development Process single sensations – integrate multiple

sensations at one time Brainstem ‘traffic-jams’ It affects us all The world is a sensory place

Sensory Beings:Theory of Sensory Integration

Until about 7 years the brain is described as primarily a SENSORY PROCESSING MACHINE

The brain senses things and gets meaning DIRECTLY FROM SENSATION

A young child doesn’t have many abstract thoughts/ideas about things, he senses them and

MOVES IN RELATION TO THE SENSATION Adaptive responses to sensation are more motor

than cognitive First 7 years all about sensory motor development

The brain as a sensory processing machine

Sensory Processing Difficulties

Any of the senses can be affected:sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, proprioception, vestibular.

Hyposensitivity / hypersensitivity or a combination. Mild to moderate to severe. Work on sensory integration / sensory processing

disorders alongside communication skills Sensory skills affect motor skills

-> higher communication and academic skills, -> self esteem.

Auditory processing is the ability to interpret the information received physically to the ear i.e. through normal hearing. Sounds trigger the inner hair cells which send synapses to the brain i.e. auditory pathways. Pathways disrupted by ‘glue ear’. Children have

difficulty hearing in background noise: auditory deprivation.

Children on the Autistic spectrum, and those with Dyslexia often have Auditory processing difficulties.

Neurodevelopmental conditions can co-exist with APD Sirimanna, T. 2011

Auditory Processing Difficulties

Problems for the Learner

Inattention: not an active listener, disorganised (ADD/ADHD/Autistic spectrum disorder, including Asperger’s, ASD/ aspects of dyslexia)

Hearing but not listening: may be an Auditory processing problem and/or ‘glue ear’ (Dyslexia/ ASD)

Problems with auditory analysis and synthesis (Dyslexia) Difficulties with working memory (Dyslexia/ADD/ADHD) Language processing difficulties; not understanding : Specific language

impairment SLI; Inept social skills and behaviour; also in the playground Poor expressive language or written tasks Dyspraxia: motor and

perceptual Underlying causes/disorders for difficulties i.e. traits of Asperger’s –

dyspraxia – dyslexia; dyslexia – SLI – ADD Emotional / psychological problems

Behavioural / attention / memory

Remember sensory-based problems occur across multiple environments/settings If purely behavioural strategies are used with

sensory based behaviours, they are not very successful!

By trying to look at the confusing or unusual behaviours through sensory glasses, order can be created and a programme developed to address

behaviours

Is it sensory or behaviour?

Stage 1: easily distracted by a new sounds or activity in his environment, focus on things around for brief periods.

Stage 2; single-channelled focus on an activity of his own choice for significant period. Becomes upset if taken away from his activity or interrupted. Ignores everything else around him.

Stage 3; keeps focus on one activity, but can be distracted or moved from this to another activity by an adult calling his name or touching him.

Stage 4: can move from one activity to another by himself, and return to the previous one, but is still only able to focus on one activity at a time.

Stage 5: can focus on more than one thing at a time, ie, talking and building a tower. Can concentrate in group situations, but may still need to be prompted if they lose focus.

Stages of Developing Attention skills

Working with others

Therapists Teachers Parents organisations

Body language

Classroom strategies

Connect Before You Direct Address the child Stay brief Stay simple Ask the child to repeat back Make an offer they can’t refuse Be positive Begin your directives with “I want”

Good sitting: still body

Good looking: eye contact with speaker

Good listening: hearing what is said

The good listening rule

“When…..Then.” Legs first, Mouth second Give choices Speak Developmentally Correctly Speak Socially correctly Speak Psychologically correctly Write it (or pictures) Talk the Child Down

More strategies

Managing behavioursFirst then cards

•A very simple form of visual timetable•Use pictures of target tasks followed by a rewarding/favourite activity•Reassures child what is coming next•For those who have difficulties with transitions and completing tasks•Motivates child•Helps to develop perseverance and waiting

Settle the listener Replay your message Let your child complete the thought Use Rhyme Rules Give likeable alternatives Give Advance notice Open up a closed child Use “When You..I feel….Because..” Close the discussion

Even more strategies

A.A.C.

Get rid of Distractions Tell, don’t ask! Start with one instruction at a time:

1 key word (give me the book) Ask children to repeat back what they have

heard Reinforce positive behaviours Provide Negative Consequence for Non-

Compliance

Strategies for children who need that bit more

Use of technology

i-Pad apps

Earphones or blockers

When they are being quiet and look like they are thinking inside

Because they look at me and talk to me after If they are looking at their shoes or talking to

someone else then they are not listening

How can you tell if someone is listening?

Between 50-75% of classroom time is spent in listening

Don’t waste your talking. Speak slowly and clearly Use body language Use cues, Cut as many distractions out as possible Check seating arrangements Put help in place for EAL or those with problems. Teach listening

Conclusion

“My heart is singing this morning. A miracle has happened! The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil’s mind, and behold, all things

have changed!”

Margi Khan, Speech & Language Therapist. margi.khan@live.co.ukSally Evans, Inclusion & Education Consultant,allchildrenincluded@gmail.com