A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 6 relatively small studies on AIT (auditory integration therapy, a technique for improving abnormal sound sensitivity by listening to music modified by filtering and modulation) and one study on Tomatis therapy (which uses electronically modified human voice and music delivered via the "Electronic Ear"), with a total of 182 subjects aged 3-39 years. Meta-analysis was not possible due to very high heterogeneity or the presentation of data in unusable forms. Three trials reported improvements at 3 months for the AIT group based on improvements of total mean scores for the ABC (Aberrant Behaviour Checklist), which is of questionable validity. Three studies did not demonstrate benefit of AIT over control conditions. The study addressing the effect of Tomatis therapy on language demonstrated no difference between the treatment and placebo groups. In the absence of evidence, the treatment must be considered experimental and care must be taken not to risk hearing loss. Parents need to be aware of the cost involved in pursuing these treatments.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment), by inconsistency (unexplained variability in results), and by imprecise results (few patients).
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