RUMFORD — The Therapy Services Department at Rumford Hospital has a new tool to help its patients with a wide variety of problems, including ADD/ADHD, brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy, balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

The therapy relies on an old instrument, the metronome. Interactive metronome therapy involves the patient responding to the regular rhythm signal of the metronome, which emits a sound much like a cow bell.

The patient wears earphones, through which to hear the metronome, and a band with a large button, which is attached to a computer, is placed around their palm. When the metronome sounds, the patient claps the button on the opposite hand during initial sessions and later moves to clapping on the thigh. More advanced patients use a foot pad.

In effect, the patient is synchronizing the exercises to the precise, computer-generated tone heard through the headphones, attempting to match the rhythmic beat with the repetitive motor actions. The therapy helps patients develop better timing, filter out distractions, improve their ability to monitor mental and physical actions as they occur and heighten coordinated performance.

Interactive metronome feedback is provided by the computer screen, which shows circles that move toward the center of the screen as the patient’s rhythm grows closer to that of the metronome. The visual feedback is particularly valuable with children because of the colors and actions they see on the screen in response to their motions. The therapy improves motor planning, sequencing and processing and is used by a wide range of therapists, educators, trainers and mental health professionals.

Two Rumford Hospital Therapy Services therapists are certified in the interactive metronomes use. Hope Calderwood is a physical therapist who uses the metronome for prosthetic training and neurological problem in adults. Deb Frino is an occupational therapist who works with many children, as well as seniors at Rumford Community Home. She uses the interactive metronome in addition to traditional therapeutic strategies.