Island School Adopts New Program to Help Students Focus
By Jessica Delaney

Students at Mackinac Island Public School will have a new beat to tap their toes to this coming year with the arrival of a new Interactive Metronome Project. Previously, the nearest provider of the program was Grand Rapids.

Interactive Metronome is a computer program designed to promote brain performance. More specifically, its purpose is to help teach people to focus for longer periods of time, increase physical endurance and stamina, filter out distractions, improve ability to monitor mental and physical actions, and improve overall performance.

The interactive metronome was originally created to help people with neurological and motor difficulties. It is often used for people having difficulty with sensory integration, Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other learning and developmental disorders.

The Metronome operates somewhat like an interactive computer game. The user is outfitted with headphones and sensors on the hands and feet. An assessment is run to test rhythm and timing, and then a series of exercises are given. After the session, a reassessment is performed to see what improvements were made.

The program will be brought to the Island through the collaboration of teacher Laura Eiseler, registered nurse Margaret Horn, and a grant received from the Mackinac Island Community Foundation.

Ms. Horn became involved in the project through a personal experience. Her son has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and autistic spectrum disorder, so Ms. Horn investigated different clinics for treatments. The Occupational Therapy Clinic in Detroit recommended the Interactive Metronome for people having difficulties with sensory integration.

She was unable to find anywhere in northern Michigan that offered the program, however, the nearest facility being in Alcona county. It is not currently offered anywhere in the Upper Peninsula.

Ms. Horn wanted to bring the program to the Island, and spoke with Ms. Eiseler, who had been her son’s second and third grade teacher.

“I knew Laura was always looking for innovative research-based programs to help children achieve success,” said Ms. Horn.

The two women sought and received a grant from the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Bloswick noting that “it’s really unique that we can do this here.”

The $3,530 grant will cover the cost of the program and equipment and the cost for Ms. Horn to become certified to administer the program. In addition, the grant includes enough money and time to put 10 students through the program. If there is more interest, or if more students would benefit, the program will be available at a cost of $10 an hour.

Students will participate in the program based on parent and teacher recommendations. Though it is not a replacement for medication, the Interactive Metronome program can provide a second source of treatment, or even primary treatment for those who are not currently receiving any medication, said Mrs. Horn.

One of the most exciting aspects of the program, she said, is that it has lasting effects. For people with ADHD, missing a day of medication means losing the medicine’s benefits. With the Metronome program, however, benefits last for up to a year, and long-term studies are assessing whether benefits last beyond that.

In addition to being used to help combat ADHD and other development disorders, the Interactive Metronome has been used to help athletes work on coordination, endurance, and motor skills. In fact, the program has been used in sports from the high school level to professional. The Professional Golfer’s Association Player of the Year, Vijay Singh, has used the Interactive Metronome.

Mackinac Island, however, will be targeting students with ADHD and developmental deficits. In this area, Interactive Metronome has been scientifically proven to improve attention and concentration, motor control and coordination, cognitive processing, reading and mathematics fluency, and control of aggression.

Working specifically with timing on the Metronome improves the brain’s ability to repair and remodel itself. It is basically “retraining” the brain through repetitive motor actions and synchronizing sensory input and motor movement, according to program literature.

The program will be implemented this fall, and Mrs. Horn will be taking online training over the summer to become certified in administering it. Sessions will be between 30 and 40 minutes and will take place after school. The length of the program is tailored each individual and ranges from weeks to months. A 20 minute assessment will determine whether a potential patient will benefit from the program.

Additional information on the program is available online at www.interactivemetronome.com.