Objective: Auditory integration training (AIT), a method implementing music into therapeutic intervention, using special headphones, has been used to increase attention for many years for individuals with developmental delays. ASHA does not recognize AIT as evidence-based practice but states further investigation is warranted. This investigation sought to examine the effects of AIT on attention for individuals with mild traumatic brain injury. Method: The investigation utilized an alternating treatment design to compare cognitive remediation with AIT to cognitive remediation without AIT. The dependent variable was complex and selective attention as measured by the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. Three participants with a diagnosis of mTBI completed 40 sessions with and without AIT. Results: All three participants experienced an increase in attention with both presented conditions. However, the increase with the use of AIT appeared more substantial. This investigation focused on one AIT system. Several AIT systems exist, it is unclear if all systems would produce the same results. Conclusion: Combining AIT with cognitive remediation demonstrated a more substantial increase in attention among participants than cognitive remediation alone. A longitudinal investigation to ascertain the continued resolution of attention decifits would be beneficial.
