“...a unique drug-free treatment that has shown great promise in kids with Attention Deficit Disorder.”
CBS Early Show “HealthWatch”

The Need

The Interactive Metronome™ has been shown to improve attention and focus, control of aggression and impulsivity, reading, language and processing, and coordination.  It also improves key cognitive abilities: motor planning, timing and sequencing. The truth is that the ability to plan and sequence motor actions with correct timing and rhythm is a critical component of adaptive skills in everyday living. This capacity is an aspect of coordination as well as basic thinking, organizing, and planning, (e.g., the ability to sequence actions, information, and ideas).  For children, this may mean sequencing the act of getting dressed or assembling all the necessary materials to take to school. 

The Solution

The Interactive Metronome™ (IM) is a computer based technology that enables individuals to directly exercise and improve the processes of motor planning and sequencing. Motor planning and sequencing problems are commonly part of a variety of developmental and learning challenges, including dyspraxia and other motor problems. Language difficulties, attentional challenges, different types of cognitive problems and a range of sensory integration challenges. The IM is an innovative patented technology that creates an opportunity to directly exercise rhythmicity and sequencing of motor patterns and actions. The IM employs a special sound guidance system to systematically guide the user through the learning process during a variety of types of planning and sequencing actions. It can easily be used by children as well as adults.

The Program

The IM is a PC-based interactive system based on the traditional music metronome. Hand and foot sensors are used to objectively measure a user’s planning and sequencing performance during a variety of tapping exercises. The program analyzes exactly when each tap occurs in relation to the reference beat and instantaneously transposes this timing information into special headphones as the taps are occurring. Like training wheels on a bicycle , the sounds that are heard in headphones as the taps are occurring. Like training wheels on a bicycle, the sounds are used by the individual to more accurately synchronize the taps with the steady metronome beat. The IM program progressively challenges users to improve their concentration, as well as their motor planning, sequencing and timing.

The IM training format provides a structured, graduated and goal oriented training process and can be completed over a 5 to 7 week period. Enrollees must make sure that their schedule can allow 3 to 5 1-hour lessons per week in order to get the most value for this course. This is a course that is demanding of time, money, and effort!

HandRIGHTing, Ink, a company whose owners envisioned opportunities for all children to successfully perform handwriting skills, now brings to the community Interactive Metronome™ Training.

Handwriting is a complex perceptual, cognitive and motor skill. It requires many underlying performance skills to become successful. The ability to integrate all of these skills allows one to plan and sequence motor actions to write fluently and legibly.

Scheduling

The Interactive Metronome™ training program includes a minimum of 15 one-hour private sessions with a Certified IM Practitioner. Some individuals will need more then 15 sessions if they have unusually impaired rhythm and timing skills. We recognize that this program requires a significant commitment of time energy and money. We strongly urge that appointments be scheduled at no greater than 4 day intervals in order to produce the maximum benefit from the program. Please check your calendar and appointment demands before you make a commitment to training.

Costs

Fifteen sessions of IM training cost $1,500.00. One half of the payment ($750.00) is requested at the first session. The balance is due starting the eighth session. If additional sessions are required, the price per session drops to $90.00 per session.

Parent Comments

"Bill 's music teacher came up to me at school today and said that Bill had made dramatic improvements in his ability to play the drum after his first IM session.  He says Bill appears to feel the beat, is able to stay on beat and his posture when playing has dramatically improved since his IM therapy."

"Ross began playing winter basketball in his clinic and is remarkably more coordinated than last year before IM training.  He can manage the ball better and even scored 2 baskets at last week's scrimmage."

"Caitlin was unable to read for more than 10 minutes at a time and she was barely scoring at the second grade level in reading comprehension at the start of second grade. Now after her first report card of third grade she is reading for an hour at a time and she scored at the third grade, five month reading level with 80% comprehension.  In math, she has started multiplication and is doing very well with the concepts and has better attention.  She also reports feeling better about herself since doing the IM program.  Caitlin performed in the church choir and was able to control her fear of performing."

From a letter from Mike's mother:

"I just wanted you to know what a positive impact IM has had on Mike's life.  He told me that his ability to pay attention has greatly improved in school, sports and social situations.  He reported that "everything seems less confusing". He also feels more alert.  Mike said that this increased attention helps him not only sit still and read for a longer time but also to be able to better understand what he's reading.  His grades have improved a lot since IM.  I've seen an increase in his gross motor and fine motor coordination.  His writing is much neater.  He's also more in sync when he's playing basketball.  IM has been a very positive experience for Mike and was well worth the money. Thanks for all of your help."

James' mother comments that her 13-year old son can now sit to read for over an hour, has improved his golf game and "Now he can concentrate longer and is easier to get along with."

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The Research

• Intervention Study
  In this study, titled "Effect of Interactive Metronome Rhythmicity Training on Children with ADHD", the IM trained group was compared with a control group receiving no intervention, and a second control group receiving a placebo computer based intervention. The IM group showed statistically significant improvements over both control groups in areas of attention, motor control, language processing, reading and in the ability to regulate their aggression. This peer reviewed research appears in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy March/April 2001 volume.
  
  
• Motor Skills Study
  In this study, widely used tests for fine and gross motor skills were administered to 38 students in special education in the Kentwood, MI school district. The results, presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association showed significant improvements for the IM group in areas of visual motor control and coordination.
  
  
• Assessment and Achievement Study
  585 students aged four to eleven years of age in an Effingham, IL school district were part of a study to assess the reliability and validity of the IM as a measure of motor timing and planning capacity . The results, published by the High/Scope Foundation, a prestigious non-profit educational research institution since 1970, showed significant correlations between IM performance and factors of age, motor coordination, attention, academic achievement and other areas.

 

More Information

Interactive Metronome:  www.interactivemetronome.com

Beat Goes On: American Journal of Occupational Therapy

CBS HealthWatch: New Therapy for ADHD

Case Report on Interactive Metronome from Journal of OT Practitioners