AIT typically addresses one aspect of autism: hypersensitivity to sounds. It reportedly desensitizes an individual’s hearing to certain frequencies so that acute reactions to these sounds are normalized. Individuals undergo 20 half-hour sessions, twice a day, for ten days: a 30-minute session in the morning, with a four hour time lapse, then another 30-minute session in the afternoon. During each session, the individual listens to music presented through headphones that cover the ears. Based upon the individual’s audiometric testing results, filters are set on the AIT device to dampen frequencies that the individual is sensitive to. The music is intended to be loud, but not painful. For the first five hours of treatment, sound levels are equally presented in both ears. For individuals with language/communication deficits (e.g., autism), the sound levels are presented in the left ear during the last five hours of treatment. This is done in an effort to stimulate the left hemisphere development, since it is responsible for processing speech and language. At the conclusion of AIT, another audiometric test is conducted to determine if auditory peaks of sound sensitivity have disappeared/diminished. If so, the individual reportedly perceives all sound frequencies equally, and is no longer hypersensitive to these sounds.

Reported Strengths/Benefits of Auditory Integration Training

1. Reportedly improves attention, auditory processing, academic performance, expressive/receptive language, independence and self-esteem (Monville & Nelson, 1994; Richard, 2000; Rayland & Edelson, 1994).
2. Reportedly decreases problem behaviors and hypersensitivity to sounds (Monville & Nelson, 1994; Richard, 2000; Rimland & Edelson, 1994).

Reported Weaknesses/Limitations/Concerns of Auditory Integration training

1. Both the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Academy of Audiology adopted position statements indicating AIT has not met scientific standards for efficacy that would justify its practice by speech-language pathologists and audiologists (ASHA, 2004; Academy of Audiology, 1993). Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities (1998) submitted a policy statement that concluded AIT is not effective for autistic children.
2. Practitioners of AIT, generally, only need to have the financial resources to purchase the AIT equipment and attend seminars on how to work the machinery. Audiology, the science of hearing, is oftentimes not addressed; therefore, practitioners are unqualified and minimally trained (Richard, 2000).
3. AIT is not recommended for :

• Children with tactile defensive behaviors, since they must wear headphones that fit around the ears;
• Children under the age of four years, since they may suffer irreparable harm to hearing acuity if they are exposed to sounds without careful instrumentation controls; and/or
• Children with otitis media and ventilating tubes (Richard, 2000).

Cost
The cost for AIT is typically $1,000.00, and generally addresses one symptom; hypersensitivity to sounds (Richard, 2000).

ASHA Position Statement 2004 : Auditory Integration Training

References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2004). Auditory integration training: position statement. ASHA Supplement, 24, 56.
American Academy of Audiology (1993). Auditory integration training: position
statement. Audiology Today, 5(4), 21.
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities (1998).
Auditory integration training and facilitated communication for autism, Pediatrics,
102(2), 431-433.
Monville,D.K., and Nelson, N.W. (1994). Parental viewpoints on change following auditory integration training fro autism. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, May, 41-53.
Richard,G.J. (2000). The Source for Treatment Methodologies in Autism. Moline,IL:
Linguisystems.
Rimland, B., and Edelson, S.M. (1994). The effects of auditory integration training on autism. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, May, 16-24.