frequencies which produce more theta patterns in the brain) to background music increases the child’s focus of attention, calms the emotions, and creates a mental set of open receptiv- ity. These responses are consistent with those reported by adults using Hemi-Sync tapes during their GATEWAY VOY- AGE experience. However, an unexpected response was seen in children who, prior to Hemi-Sync therapy, experienced severe difficul- ties with sensory organization and integration. These children showed major difficulties accepting touch to their bodies. Gentle hugs, light calming strokes or pats, or accidental touching usually elicited strong aversive reactions. The child would push the touching person away, screech or cry, hit the person, or withdraw and begin a series of stereotyped self- stimulatory behaviors. They did not like to get their hands messy, have their hair washed or combed, or sit outside in the wind and grass. Many of the children became frightened and disoriented with movement or changes of position. They tended to increase these behaviors in complex sensory envi- ronments. A busy household, a school classroom or cafeteria, or a trip to the grocery store would reduce the child’s ability to function and would increase the frequency and strength of the behaviors used to cope. Because of the intensity of their reactions to their environment, most of these children were labeled autistic, profoundly retarded, or emotionally disturbed.
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Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 (Winter) · 1 Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 Winter.pdf
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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
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-