Can Integrated Listening Systems help ADHD Inattentive?

Can Integrated Listening Systems help ADHD Inattentive?

Dr Edward Hollowell has been offering a program called Integrated Listening Systems (ILS) in his office that may help Inattentive ADHD. ILS uses a program that combines auditory therapy with cerebellar therapy and visual therapy to produce changes in the brain that will, in turn, help the inattention of ADHD (ADHD-I)  and other ADHD behaviors. Because these therapies have all been shown to help Inattentive ADHD, the combination program should help as well.

Integrated Leaning System for Inattentive ADHD

I have written before about how auditory processing problems can often go hand in hand with the inattention of ADHD and other ADHD problems and how improving auditory processing can oft times improve the symptoms of ADHD.

 I have written about sensory integration and sensory procession problems in adults and children with ADHD and how the inattention of ADHD is often a co-existing diagnosis of sensory processing problems.

Visual processing exercises have been shown to help the symptoms of ADHD including some of the behavioral and inattention symptoms that are seen in adults and children with ADHD.  It is unclear if the visual problems seen in people with Inattentive ADHD, Combined type and Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD are related to the same processes that cause the symptoms of ADHD or if the visuals symptoms are a separate problem all together that just happens to co-exist with the Inattentive ADHD and the other types of ADHD.

The visual training, auditory training and cerebellar training in the Integrated Listening Systems (ILS) program aims to treat some of the auditory, visual, coordination and balance problems that seem to be more pronounced in children and adults with Inattentive ADHD and the other types of ADHD.

The ILS program is customized to address specific issues that the patient is experiencing and it is designed so that the participant finds the activities involved in the program easy and fun to complete. The sessions are generally about 30 minutes in length and are performed about 3-4 times a week.  The program takes about 3 months to complete.

I have been unable to find any studies that report on how effective the ILS method is for treating the inattentive symptoms of ADHD or for treating ADHD in general but in theory the combination therapy should help.  I look forward to reading studies that document the changes seen in people who complete the ILS program.

One of the founders of the ILS program and Dr. Edward Hollowell speak in this interview on how ILS may help people with ADHD.