Sound Therapy Systems

Using Music-Based Auditory Stimulation^TM to enhance learning and listening in our children with special needs

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Why Is Bone Conduction Important in Auditory Training?

What is Bone Conduction?

We listen to ourselves through bone conduction and others through the air. If you have ever listened to a recording of your own voice you have experienced this phenomenon.
As we speak our entire body resonates due in part to the speed in which sound travels through bone. Our self perception through speech is primarily through the influence of the bone conduction pathway. This is quite different from how we listen to others whose voices are transmitted through the air.

How Bone Conduction Works

The inner ear is encased within the temporal bone which resonates when stimulated by sound, providing direct stimulation to the cochlea and vestibular system (the inner ear). The bone conduction pathway is most efficient in transmitting the large vibrations produced by low frequency sounds (zone one). This makes a bone conduction program of particular value for clients with problems integrating zone one functions such as; body image, self regulation, time and spatial issues, motor skills and the rhythm of body and language.

Further, problems may be addressed in zones two and three relating to the functioning of the middle ear as observed through; anxiety, hypersensitivity to sound, listening discrimination, filtering out background sound and poor vocal control.

Our bone conduction system delivers auditory stimulation through headphones with standard air conduction to the left and right ear. In addition more amplified sound is delivered to the skull through a tiny bone conductor, or speaker, which rests on top of the skull within the headband. By applying auditory stimulation directly to the skull, the inner ear receives rapid stimulation by-passing the middle ear, prior to receiving it through the air conduction route. This experience is subtle and very grounding. The body is prepared and seems more ready to receive auditory input. This appears to be of particular benefit to those who present as being disconnected from or resistant to sound such as children on the autism spectrum. It is amazing how clearly you can listen to the music though bone conduction only, people are fascinated when they first experience it!

Bone conduction is essentially, an added form of stimulation to the cochlea and vestibular system and is more intensive than air conduction alone. The increased input is observed to accelerate change. In addition, bone conduction is how a fetus hears sounds in-utero. It is in the womb where listening begins. Taking the listener back to this earliest developmental period using bone conduction is the foundation of the listening process.