When Hemi-Sync was added to therapy and classroom environments, these children responded in a totally different way. Eye contact increased. They accepted touch and became curious and interested in the sensory input. They were no longer startling and putting their hands over their ears to sounds that were previously upsetting. The amount of frus- trated screeching and crying was reduced, and more func- tional communication emerged. There was a reduction in behaviors previously used by the child to cope with sensory overload. The children stopped rocking, spinning, and flap- ping and began to pay attention. A new set of questions emerged from these experiences. It appeared that the Hemi-Sync signals enhanced the child’s ability to organize and integrate sensory information. This resulted in an increase in the ability to focus attention, to discriminate specific sensory properties, and to filter un- wanted sensory input. What were these children telling us about the use of Hemi-Sync in our own lives? A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: HEMI-SYNC AND SENSORY ORGANIZATION For most of my life I have experienced sharp swings in my ability to organize the sensory environment. I have always functioned best in quiet spaces. When sensory complexity is reduced, I am able to think more clearly, and to be more creative. It is as if a reduction in external stimulation allows inner connections to be stronger, and increases my awareness of inner messages and intuitive insights. Many noisy and
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Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 (Winter) · 1 Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 Winter.pdf
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complex experiences caused fatigue and internal frustration as I was growing up. The noise and natural exuberance of a football game, the chatter of a party, the external complexity of a business meeting or convention triggered an intense experi- ence of overload. I was painfully aware of inner confusion, of misunderstanding what people said, of poor memory, of re- duced eye contact, of being physically and emotionally touchy, and of the body-aching fatigue that usually resulted from such encounters. The fatigue and a desire to go to sleep were always Present, and as they became stronger, I was aware of even poorer abilities to cope with the situation. I participated in a limited way in these activities, but was always the first to go home, or the one who fell asleep in the middle ofa party. Iwas painfully shy, and very much of an introvert. Some people described me as antisocial. In quieter situations I was comfort- able and outgoing. The world seemed to make more sense, and relationships with other people were easy and pleasurable. --- PAGE 5 (OCR) --- Winter 1991 My initial participation in the GATEWAY VOYAGE in the spring of 1981 facilitated a different set of responses to my normal environment. I first noticed it during the plane trip home. I generally experienced airports as extremely stressful places. The bustle of people, the overwhelming smells from snack bars, and the random announcements of plane depar-
tures required a good bit of conscious focusing and sorting out to get me to my destination. I arrived home from that trip ina calm and peaceful state of mind and body. I noticed this change with interest, but thought little about it. Iwas working in a hospital clinic for children with cerebral palsy at the time. On clinic days my ability to function effi- ciently was pushed to the maximum. In a five-hour period, I might see six children for evaluations. There was no real schedule, anda therapist would just pick up the next child who was ready. Thus, there was no way of preparing for a specific child. This was followed by a staffing session in which five or six different professionals would discuss findings on each child and decide upon a set of recommendations. This meeting was usually chaotic, and interspersed with ringing telephones and a general sense of impatience. At the end of the meeting I was expected to type a brief report for each child while sitting in an office with two other persons who were writing reports or talking on the telephone. I was exhausted and constantly frustrated with what I had agreed to do. After my GATEWAY program, I had some new tools. I listened to a METAMUSIC tape through my Walkman™ as I prepared for the ic day. I found a quiet therapy room during lunchtime and listened to the Catnapper tape before the staff meeting. I wore head- phones and was supported by the Concentration tape while writing reports.