What is Samonas Sound Therapy, and How Does It Work?

Samonas Sound Therapy is a type of listening therapy that uses specialized headphones to deliver electronically modified music. The goal of Samonas is to improve auditory skills over a period of repeated listening. This can be particularly useful for individuals with autism and auditory processing disorder (APD). 

Samonas addresses auditory processing skills by adjusting music so it emphasizes the higher frequencies in the songs. This improves auditory processing abilities as well as boosts cognitive function, giving users a greater sense of regulation.

Samonas can be paired with other programs, such as Soundsory®, which pairs music with movement. We will discuss some of those programs and, if you read on, you’ll also learn more about what Samonas is, the theory behind how it works, and who can benefit from using it.

Key Take-Away Messages

• People with autism, auditory processing disorder, and similar conditions can benefit from using Samonas Sound Therapy, which uses electronically modified music to improve auditory skills over time.
• Samonas Sound Therapy is great for home use and can be completed in under 1 hour each day.
• Studies show that Samonas Sound Therapy has the potential to improve social participation and ASD symptoms in kids with autism. However, more large-scale research is needed to determine its exact effects.

What is Samonas Sound Therapy?

Samonas stands for Spectrally Activated Music of Optimal Natural Structure. Samonas is a type of listening therapy that aims to energize and regulate the brain. In the late 1980s, Ingo Steinbach, the founder of Samonas, created a device that enhances the upper-frequency range of music. The music selected for Samonas is mostly classical music and nature sounds. 

The theory behind Samonas sound therapy is that listening to these upper-frequency sounds trains the brain to pay attention to the upper ranges in the sound spectrum. The goal of this is to induce changes in the brain that lead to improvements in attention, social engagement, and higher-level motor and communication skills.

How Samonas Uses Sound to Train the Ear

The auditory system is just one aspect of the body’s nervous system, which controls nearly every part of our body and brain. Therefore, when your auditory system isn’t working as it should, this will have a ripple effect on other body areas and skills.

Samonas Sound Therapy aims to help address this concern by reteaching the ear and its connection to the nervous system. Samonas does this through the help of nature sounds and other forms of music, which have been specially edited to improve auditory processing. These modifications prompt certain parts of the ear (including the eardrum and the cochlea) as well as the brain areas they’re connected to, in hearing the full spectrum of the sounds being played.

Samonas uses a gentle approach, but it strengthens the eardrum over time by offering a light massage to the delicate structures of the inner ear. Some of these parts of the ear may not be used very often (or at all!), so this type of stimulation helps them work in the way they are intended to.

Who Can Benefit from the Samonas Sound Therapy Program? 

The Samonas Sound Therapy program may benefit children and adults with some of the following conditions:

• Auditory processing disorder (APD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Learning disorders
• Chronic ear infections
• Ongoing depression or anxiety, stemming from difficulty understanding others over time
• Speech and language challenges

Children with APD struggle to process auditory information, so Samonas may be useful as it aims to improve auditory attention and processing skills. Children with autism often struggle with social and communication skills [1]. Samonas Sound Therapy aims to improve these areas, so children with autism may benefit from this program. 

Who it may not suit: Samonas Sound Therapy doesn’t incorporate movement, so people with gross motor concerns or high activity levels may need a program that is more interactive and energizing.

What is the Time Commitment for the Samonas Program?

The time commitment for Samonas is different for each child. Children usually listen to the Samonas CDs for 5-45 minutes per day, often split into two sessions. The length of the program varies depending on the child’s needs and age. It is common for the program to run for 4-7 months. Children are allowed and encouraged to take part in other quiet activities while listening to the Samonas CDs, including schoolwork, puzzles, and reading. 

How Much does Samonas Cost?

The cost for parent training is around USD $120. The cost for the equipment required (headphones and Samonas CDs or app access) is between USD $300 and $500. If parents choose to purchase one or more sessions with a Samonas-trained provider, which is recommended by Samonas, this will increase overall costs.

When viewing a bundle of parent training, equipment, and provider meetings, parents can expect to spend between $1,000 and $5,000 in total. It’s important to remember that costs are partially dependent on where you are located and how many sessions you are interested in. Costs are subject to change at any time, so be sure to confirm them before beginning.

Pros and Cons of Samonas Therapy 

Before deciding whether Samonas therapy is right for you, consider its main pros and cons.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Convenience: Samonas is usually delivered as a home-based program. Children can also complete other quiet tasks, such as school work or reading, while listening to the Samonas program.	Time-intensive: Time commitment varies for each child, but programs often require 5 to 45 minutes per day for 4 to 7 months. There are usually two listening sessions per day.
Personalized approach: Music selections, intensity, and listening times are adjusted for each child. This can be done by parents following self-study, or assisted by a Samonas-trained practitioner.	Some children will require additional programs: The program is listening-based therapy only, so some children will also require therapy with a movement aspect.
Minimal equipment required: The only things required are specialized headphones and either the Samonas app or CDs.	Initial setup required: To follow the correct music, intensity, and listening times, parents either need to attend a training session or study the online guides provided by Samonas.

Is There Research Behind the Samonas Sound Therapy Program?

Research suggests that Samonas sound therapy can improve social engagement in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [2]. However, this study was Singapore-based and only investigated 11 children with ASD. 

More research is needed to confidently state that Samonas improves symptoms of ASD and APD in children. However, this is the case for most sound therapies, and there are studies that make positive references to Samonas based on personal experience. [3]

A much larger study comparing various types of sound therapy used with individuals who have autism found that Samonas helped facilitate joint attention and reciprocal social interactions. Evidence also supports long-term benefits measured at several points after this study concluded. [4]

Alternative/Complementary Approaches to Samonas Sound Therapy

Here are some alternative and complementary approaches to Samonas Sound Therapy, each offering different methods to support sensory, motor, and cognitive development.

Soundsory

Soundsory® is a complementary approach to Samonas. Soundsory® is a 40-day program of movement to music – it aims to enhance neurodevelopment for children with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), motor delay and sensory processing difficulties.   

Soundsory® helps children to integrate primitive reflexes through a series of activities to music that are repeated daily. Regular repetition of these exercises helps children build strong neural networks and improve sensorimotor skills. 

ForBrain

Created by the same developers as Soundsory®, ForBrain is a self-guided program for children to improve their speech as well as other cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and decision-making. ForBrain does this by providing users a concentrated listening experience to their own voice as well as music. With their unique filtering, children are able to hear sounds with a better quality, which helps with comprehension and various other skills. This makes the program ideal for people with ADHD, auditory processing disorder, and similar conditions.

Brain Gym

Using specially developed activities and exercises, Brain Gym helps tackle both physical and cognitive function. This program is most ideal for a clinic setting where expert-trained therapists guide children through the sequence. Both children and adults can benefit from Brain Gym to improve skills such as motor coordination, focus, endurance, and more.

Interactive Metronome

As its name suggests, Interactive Metronome mainly targets specific motor skills like timing, pacing, and rhythm. Interactive Metronome does this using physical exercises that incorporate a certain rhythm along with music and other forms of auditory stimulation. This program involves the use of several high-tech pieces of equipment to measure the user’s movements, which are operated by specially trained providers in a clinic setting. Children and adults of any age who experience neurological disorders can benefit from participating in the Interactive Metronome program to address their motor skills.

We’ve provided a table below to compare several of these alternatives at a glance:

Aspect	Samonas Sound Therapy	Soundsory®	ForBrain	Brain Gym	Interactive Metronome
Focus	Auditory processing, attention, motor and communication skills	Auditory stimulation, sensory processing, holistic neurodevelopment, attention enhancement	Speech improvement, attention enhancement, memory development	Improves cognitive function through exercise	Improves rhythm and timing of movements
Techniques	Listening to music with modified sound frequencies	Music, rhythm, movement exercises, auditory stimulation	Listening to modified sounds (your voice, music, etc.) that filters out background noise for better sound quality	Specific physical exercises and activities	Rhythm-based exercises alongside auditory stimulation
Delivery	Requires specialized headphones and the Samonas CDs or app	Requires patented bone conduction headphones	Requires patented bone conduction headphones with microphone	Requires the purchase of various exercises and activities	Requires purchase of headphones, button triggers, wireless foot-tap pads, hand gloves, a wired tap mat, and a wired hand trigger
Practitioners	Samonas-trained practitioners	Self-guided program	Self-guided program	Brain Gym trained providers	Interactive Metronome certified providers
Personalization	Music selections, intensity and listening times are adjusted for each child	Structured program, app adapts to each user’s profile	Tailored to those with more attention needs, memory needs, or speech needs	Not many options for personalization	Not many options personalization
Application	Usually used at home as part of a daily routine	Usually used at home as part of a daily routine	Usually used at home as part of daily routine, but can be used by therapists	Used in clinic alongside trained therapists	Used in clinic alongside trained therapists
Target Audience	Children and adults with APD and autism	Children with Autism, ADHD, motor delay, sensory processing difficulties, attention difficulties	Children with ADHD, autism, or auditory processing disorder	Children and adults of all ages	Children and adults with neurological conditions
Integration with Other Therapies	Can be used as a standalone therapy, or with other therapies including movement aspects as needed	Primarily a standalone program	Primarily a standalone program	Primarily a standalone program	Primarily a standalone program
Overall Approach	Electronically enhanced music regulates and energizes the brain	Auditory stimulation, sensory processing, attention enhancement	Tomatis Method along with electronically enhanced sounds	Uses skills such as coordination and focus to boost overall brain function	Uses skills such as timing and attention to boost overall brain function
Independence and Convenience	Requires research or guidance from trained practitioners	Can be practiced independently at home	Can be practiced independently at home	Need guidance from trained providers	Need guidance from trained providers

Conclusion

Samonas Sound Therapy is a type of listening therapy that uses electronically enhanced music. Samonas aims to energize and regulate the brain, which may have a positive impact on some symptoms of APD and Autism. 

It can be used alone or combined with complementary therapies such as Soundsory®, which uses rhythmic music and specialized, home-based exercises to build stronger neural connections. ForBrain is another great option Samonas pairs with, as it uses technology to adjust the sound of your voice and music and improve the way your body processes them.

 FAQs 

What does Samonas Mean?

Samonas stands for Spectrally Activated Music of Optimal Natural Structure. The goal of Samonas is to energize and regulate the brain. 

What is Samonas Sound Therapy?

Samonas sound therapy is a type of listening therapy that uses electronically enhanced music played through specialized headphones. This may positively impact some symptoms of Autism and APD. 

Is Sound Therapy Safe?

Although sound therapy is generally safe, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider before starting any new type of therapy with your child. This is particularly true if your child tends to react strongly to new sensory experiences. 

Can Samonas Sound Therapy be Done at Home?

Yes, Samonas Sound Therapy can be done at home or during sessions with a Samonas-trained provider.

Is Samonas Suitable for Adults, or Only Children?

Samonas is designed for both children and adults. The listening program can be tailored to different ages, individual needs, and sensory processing challenges.

What are the Alternative Approaches to Samonas?

Some alternative programs (or programs that can be used alongside Samonas) include Soundsory, Forbrain, Brain Gym, and Interactive Metronome. Each has its own set of benefits, so it’s best to learn about those before choosing the program(s) that are best for you or your child.

References 

1. Cheung, W. C., Meadan, H., & Xia, Y. (2021). A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationships Between Social, Communication, and Motor Skills Among Students with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05328-7 
2. Pitkola, S. M. (2016). Effectiveness of SAMONAS Sound Therapy (SST) in improving social engagement of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Minerva-Access.unimelb.edu.au. https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/items/ed3cccff-1da9-5ac3-8ae7-174059769385
3. Cooper, S. (2010). Sound Therapy Restores Hearing -Fact of Fiction? A personal experience of an acoustician. https://www.acoustics.asn.au/conference_proceedings/ICA2010/cdrom-ICA2010/papers/p327.pdf
4. Shahrudin, F. A., Dzulkarnain, A. A. A., Hanafi, A. M., Jamal, F. N., Basri, N. A., Sidek, S. N., Yusof, H. M., & Khalid, M. (2022). Music and sound-based intervention in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review. Psychiatry Investigation, 19(8), 626–636. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2021.0382