We started The Listening Program in mid-June and suspected that it would have some impact on both LuLu’s CAPD and her sensitivity to noises (more of an SPD thing). Our occupational therapist recommended that we augment the traditional TLP series with cds from the Sensory Integration series of TLP. So we started with CD#1 from that series, which our OT described has low, calming tones. We ended up doing that for nearly 2 weeks before starting the actual series. We were approaching this with a “slow & steady” approach – something that is often recommended for my volatile LuLu.

The emotionality we had been warned about showed up in the 3rd week with lots of tearful crying. We persisted. LuLu liked the CDs and we started to see gains in the way she processed song lyrics and even in her speech patterns and articulation. But last week we hit a major snag.

As I reported in Super Sleuth, LuLu’s behaviors starting plummeting as we began CD#4. It took me a day or two to suspect TLP, because LuLu enjoys the listening so much and actively seeks it out. But as we started to eliminate all the other potential culprits, it became increasingly apparent that this therapy was at least, in part, responsible for increasing her agitation.

So, it’s time for “slower & steadier”. Sigh. Story of our remediation life. We have cut the listening time in half – one 15-minute session daily, followed by 15 minutes with the low calming tones from the Sensory Integration CD. This approach made sense to me, as it resembles the neurofeedback protocol approach we used for two years – calming protocol, challenging protocol, then calming protocol to finish the session.

Now on our 4th day with the reduced listening time and LuLu has calmed quite a bit. Not back to her “great” self that we’d been seeing in the last couple of months, but yesterday was the best day we’d had for two weeks. SO, perhaps we’ve figured out the latest mystery for now.

I do feel a bit like whining, though, because the “slow & steady” approach always seems to be the path we must take. Others breeze through very aggressive therapies – like a 10-day course of AIT or 40 neurofeedback sessions (we’ve done over 300), or a few trips to the hyperbaric chamber – with astounding results. Our results have been major in these areas, proving that LuLu’s disorders have a deep underlying neurological cause (improperly formed mid-brain). But her sensitivity to the interventions and her great need for the remediation collide…requiring us to go slower than most and longer than most.

And the clock is ticking. In September, LuLu will be 10. She’s not getting any younger you know. But then, I’m reminded of that ol’ tortoise and know that if nothing else, we will have honed our skills in the areas of patience, determination and persistence. So, slowly and steadily…we plug along.