Autism Therapy: Interactive Metronome Therapy

Recently, we were visiting with Robin and Trey Smith, owners of Simple Strokes Therapy Center. They work with all types of autism therapy for children ages 0-21. Their center is very child-friendly! Both of my sons were very much at home and wanted to stay longer than our social visit. Trey Smith was talking about an autism therapy that I hadn’t heard much about. Interactive Metronome Therapy. So I wanted to find out more.

Interactive Metronome Therapy ( or IM, as it is sometimes referred to) can help children with autism or other neurological challenges so that they become more focused. Children with autism so often have problems focusing, especially in a classroom setting. They are unable to filter out noise. IM teaches them how.

Interactive Metronome Therapy produces a cow bell tone that is transmitted through headphones. The child (or even adults) attemps to clap his or her hands to the rhythm of the cow bell. The child is then scored by the therapist. The therapy improves rhythm and timing and the Interactive Metronome Therapy becomes more difficult as the patient improves. As the patient improves, focus improves in the classroom and elsewhere.

Interactive Metronome Therapy strengthens the brain’s frontal lobe and synapses. The brain works more efficiently and learning and concentration are easier for the child with autism. At least, that is the theory behind Interactive Metronome Therapy. There is a demonstration of how it works below.

Interactive Metronome Therapy seems like a promising autism therapy that has actually been around for a while. But it is just being used on our children. Many therapists are very excited about it and have seen it succeed. I am just thankful that we are seeing success with our children.