Interactive Metronome®
The Fundamental Nature of Timing and Rhythmicity
The human capacity for timing and rhythmicity plays a fundamental role in many human behaviors and performance such as bodily coordination, sequencing activities, cognitive functions, and attentional skills that effect a person’s academic or work product.
Like stoplights in a big city, timing and rhythmicity help to coordinate and integrate all of the neural traffic bringing information into the brain via the senses with all of the neural traffic exiting the brain towards the muscles and speech.
Research has clearly shown that the brain learns through repetition of precise activities. By keeping the beat, the brain is able to plan, sequence and process information more effectively.
Benefits of Improving Brain Timing
The brain’s capacity for timing and rhythmicity can be improved through training which then impacts other brain functions such as:
These improvements can positively impact academic abilities such as reading fluency, math fluency, and mental processing speed.
What is IM?
The Interactive Metronome® (IM) is a patented technology program shown to improve attention, coordination, and timing in children and adults with a wide range of cognitive and physical difficulties including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
How Does IM Work?
IM trains the brain to plan, sequence and process information more effectively through a repetition of precise activities. A series of hand and foot exercises are performed while IM’s patented auditory guidance system progressively challenges individuals to improve their accuracy as they actively attempt to match the computer generated beat. The difference between the individual’s response and the reference beat is measured in milliseconds and a score is provided. A low ms. score indicates improved timing and overall performance.
"Attention, learning and problem solving depend in part on the ability to plan and sequence actions and ideas. The Interactive Metronome® helps individuals systematically exercise and often improve basic motor planning and sequencing capacities."
--Stanley Greenspan MD, a noted child psychiatrist and ex-head of the NIMH is Chairman of IM’s Scientific Advisory Board.
"The Interactive Metronome® is spectacularly helpful. It is one of the most promising developments with non-medication of ADHD that's come along in a long while... This is really solid, extremely helpful non-medication (intervention) not only for ADHD but for mental functioning in general."
--Edward Hallowell MD, author of Driven to Distraction, and leading clinician and speaker on ADHD
Hope Clinic’s IM Program
A typical Interactive Metronome® program at Hope Clinic starts with an initial evaluation. Following the testing, a program plan is created. Treatment involves 15 one hour sessions spread over a four to six week period. All treatment sessions take place at Hope Clinic facilities with individualized supervision of trained staff. A midterm and final testing demonstrate improvements in millisecond scores. Professional fees cover the full 15 session program, materials, professional services, and progress evaluations. Monthly payment plans are available. Call Hope Clinic for more details and current rates.