“The voice can only reproduce what the ear can hear.”
What is the tomatis® method?
The Tomatis® Method is a neurofunctional auditory stimulation method designed to help anyone wanting to improve their listening, motor, emotional and cognitive abilities through music and language.
Listening is interrupted when an individual fails to correctly analyze the sensory message that his or her ear perceives, resulting in various learning, language, attention, affective and emotional disorders. When your listening is interrupted, your brain stops paying attention to the sounds that the ear transmits. Thanks to the Tomatis® method, we have now a way to re-capture the brains attention. During the Tomatis® listening sessions, music is transmitted with sudden changes of tonal contrasts triggered by timbre and intensity. These contrasts are totally unpredictable. Totally painless, they will have the effect of surprising the ear and the brain, which by natural reaction will pay close attention. As a result of these repeated and unpredictable acoustic contrasts, the ear and the brain move with determination into more listening clarity, improving overall listening.
In addition, these contrasts are designed to promote the transmission of high-pitched sounds to reinforce the right ear in its functions as dominant ear.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Tomatis® Method uses the natural plasticity of the neural circuits involved in the decoding and analysis of sounds to retrain the brain. For Alfred Tomatis, "hearing is not listening" because listening requires conscious action. Indeed, listening is the ability to use one's ear in an attentive manner for the purpose of learning and communicating, and in a way which is not emotionally disturbed. With the help of the TomatIs® method, a technique of sound-sensory stimulation, we can now directly stimulate the ears and the brain. The special headphones used during the listening program are designed to simultaneously work on air and bone conduction, acting like a work out for the ears.
The importance of The auditory stimulation
Did you know that what the brain needs most is stimulation? Over 80% of this stimulation comes from your ear! Whether you're asleep or awake, your ear is constantly bombarding your brain with stimuli. From the fourth month of pregnancy, the fetus's ear is the first fully functional organ. The ear not only receives sound but also determines your balance, rhythm and coordination. Try covering an ear while walking and you''ll see you suffer significant loss of balance.
When listening is interrupted, the auditory system, which is a powerful sensory integrator, is disrupted, this disruption can have major repercussion for your personal development and well-being. By working on the reception and integration of sound though your ears, the Tomatis® Method helps you stimulate your brain effectively and minimizes listening challenges. Through a personalized auditory stimulation treatment it is possible to re-educate the auditory processing system so that it recovers its full functionality.
Watch the following videos to discover what is the Tomatis® method:
WHO IS THE TOMATIS® METHOD FOR?
The Tomatis method can be used by
Children
Teenagers
Adults
Seniors
Anyone wanting to improve his or her quality of life can beneficial from thew Tomatis® Method. It is an excellent complimentary technique to professional therapies, teaching and coaching approaches.
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“My son, Nicholas, couldn’t read. In the beginning of second grade he was in the 6th percentile on his standardized tests. Between the Tomatis therapy from Aurélien and Barton tutoring, he is in the 3rd grade and tested in the 76th percentile. After the intense Tomatis work he began reading chapter books, and now LOVES reading. This week he read 100 pages in less than 2 hours, and we are only partially through the Tomatis program! Aurélien is so good with kids and really knows what is needed to help. I was skeptical at first, but after reading about it and witnessing it myself, I can see what can be done! I am so thankful we found this. Thank you Aurélien. ”
“Aurélien worked with me a few years ago using the Tomatis Method to heal my high anxiety, cognitive issues from concussions, high blood pressure, moods, hearing issues, and sleep issues. I was desperate for help, as my regular medical doctors were not helping. Aurélien went above and beyond to help me with his calm, supportive skills and encouragement. He became a mentor and trusted therapist as well. I learned so much from him, and I had the feeling he treated all his clients with the same compassion and passion to help any age group or disability. I made remarkable improvements in all issues and a long-lasting friend.”
FIELDS OF APPLICATION
Learning and language disorders
The Tomatis® Method works with plasticity of the neural pathways that decode and analyze sounds, as well as those of motor skills, balance and coordination. This method can help children and adults develop coping strategies to deal with learning and language disorders.
Preparation for childbirth
The mother’s voice is perceived by the fetus. It constitutes a kind of primary emotional acoustic matter that is fundamental for a child’s development. It is therefore very important that a child perceives a pleasant voice. The Tomatis® Pregnancy program moves with mothers throughout their pregnancies, particularly in the third trimester, stimulating bone conduction and reducing stress, and providing a relaxed body, mind and spirit for the mother and baby.
Integration of foreign languages
The purpose of the Tomatis® Method related to foreign languages is to give anyone who wishes to learn a foreign language the ability to hear the sounds necessary to learn another language. By opening ears to hear the rhythms and sounds of a new language, the Tomatis method enable the ear to efficiently adapt to the rhythms and sounds and to analyze ad reproduce them. This work therefore frees one from the rhythmic patterns and sounds of one’s own language where we are often stuck and unable to hear a new language. This exercise allows the ear to hear a new rhythm and the brain to learn a new language.
Motor disorders
Through its direct interaction with the vestibular nerve, the Tomatis® Method stimulates the regulation of muscle tone and following verticality. This action improves laterality disorders. The vestibular system plays an important role in the function of coordination and rhythm in association with several other parts of the brain. as a result, the Tomatis® Method can effectively improve rhythm and coordination.
Improving the voice and musicality
The fundamental principle of the Tomatis® Method is that any influence on the mechanisms of reception and analysis of acoustic message will affect the way in which this message is reproduced, whether spoken, sung or emitted by a musical instrument. The Tomatis® Method can help musicians wanting to improve their quality of listening, improve their sense of rhythm with a noticeable amelioration of the timber in their voice and playing.
Affective and emotional disorders
The brain tends to protect itself naturally, such as when the external environnement is perceived as aggressive or after an emotional shock.This brain response acts as a filter that disturbs the transmission and analysis of sensory messages. This is an indirect action on the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. Working with this action, the Tomatis® Method contributes to the regulation of emotional disorders related to depression ad anxiety.
Autism spectrum disorders
The neural circuits connecting the ear to the brain contain specific neurons called “mirror neurons”. These mirror neurons play an important role in the construction of social cognition. This is the set of processes that enable us to attribute intentions and ideas to a person, and particularly understand his or her emotional state. By acting on these neural circuits, the Tomatis® Method improves the quality of interpersonal skills.
Attention disorders, ADHD, ADD
The Tomatis® Method is based on the principle of transmitting contrasts in music designed to constantly surprise the brain. This keeps the brain stimulated. The goal is to help the brain develop automatic mechanisms to detect change, which serves to reinforce attention.
Personal development and well-being
Sounds rich in high harmonics stimulate a vast network of nerves called the “reticular formation”. The reticular formation controls the overall level of brain activity. By emphasizing the transmission of high-pitched sounds that both produce of stimulating effect on the brain and a relaxing effect in the body, the Tomatis® Method brings about a positive effect on personal development and well-being.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
PHASES OF THE LISTENING PROGRAM
Initial Consultation
As a trained level 4 consultant with several years of experience, I will conduct an initial interview (30-45 min). In some cases, when the distance does not allow it, it is possible to conduct an interview through Skype. During this interview, we will discuss what you would like to work on and set up goals.
The Listening Test
I will then evaluate your listening with a test called the Listening Test (TLTS). In this test, I do not test what you hear, but rather how you listen. Eventually, this test will serve to identify your listening potential and possible dysfunction. Based on the diagnosis, I can establish a personalized intervention program, adapted to your needs and specifically targeting your goals. The listening test is an important tool in the Tomatis® method, but it remains optional and complimentary with the program. The listening test is approximately 45 minutes and non painful.
The Listening Sessions
The auditory stimulation treatments are called "intensives." The full program spans over a four to five months period. Working with specially designed Tomatis® devices, you listen to a listening program that is set up for you only. You can do the entire program comfortably at home using the portable TalksUp device. in most cases, the program contains a minimum of three intensives listening sessions of 10-15 days each combined with rest phases, which ensure that individual progress is lasting. The duration and number of sessions will depend on the issue in question. Generally, one listens to 2 hours every day for an overall program of 60 to 90 hours. Forbrain® can be used during breaks.
When possible, active sessions (speaking exercises) are usually added after one or two intensives. These active sessions contain reading, repetition or expression exercises during which your voice is instantaneously modified and transmitted according to the specific parameters of the Tomatis® effect. The voice is corrected in real time and, as a result, unconsciously modulates it. After each listening sessions, a listening test is recommended to evaluate the progress made and adjust the next listening programs.
The mother's voice: In specific cases, the mother's voice (filtered at 8000 Hz) is also used during the therapy.
The End Assessment
After the last listening session, a final listening test is conducted. This assessment serves to gauge progress and determine if other sessions are recommended.
WHAT DO I LISTEN TO?
The program is mostly constituted of modified music by Mozart along Gregorian chants and occasional Waltzes.
Why Mozart? Because Mozart's music is extremely rich in harmonics needed for the Tomatis effect. Mozart 's music is also appreciated worldwide.
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For more information on the technology behind the method and Dr. Alfred Tomatis' work visit: www.tomatis.com
BOCCARD STUDIO is duly licensed by TOMATIS DEVELOPPEMENT S.A. which is the owner of TOMATIS, TOMATIS +LOGO, SOLISTEN, TALKSUP Trademarks www.tomatis.com.
The TOMATIS® Method is an Educational Program, and is considered neither a medical treatment nor a means to establish a medical diagnosis. The content of this website is for informational purposes only. It should be neither considered as nor substitute for medical advice.