Saturday, February 17, 2007

What's HOT (Horizons Occupational Therapy)

A friend laughing, water lapping against the shore, someone singing in tune, birds chirping; these are sounds that are pleasing to my ears. What about the loud vibrations of a stereo in someones car, the humming sounds of the florescent lights above your head, the furnace running, the toilet flushing, the humming of the computer, a baby crying, someone sneezing, a siren blaring; these can be disturbing to different people. There are many sounds that go unnoticed that effect us on a daily basis.
Think about people who appear to to distracted in a busy environment. Do they have a glazed look on their face, are they holding their ears, not following conversations, becoming upset for no apparent reason? Many of us can filter out various sounds and continue on with our work, while many others have difficulty filtering out all the extra noises that each of us get bombarded with. This is auditory processing.
Some sounds are found to help by using certain types of music. Classical music can help people to focus and attend to task, help with academics, communication, engagement, and body organization. While other types of music with rhythm can help with body movement, timing, rhythm, sequencing, postural organization, and emotional responses. Sounds of nature can help with body awareness, and can make a person feel calm and relaxed.
Even the very loud base booming music coming from the car stereos, may help a person feel more grounded, to help them focus.
It is important to remember that sounds that you may enjoy, may be very difficult for someone else. Also, be aware of the background noises that could be effecting your feelings and emotions.
Moods can change very quickly with an unknown background sound, or by seeking out various sounds. People can experience joy, happiness, sadness, anger, frustration...and many more just by the sounds they hear.
Sarah OT

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