The Tomatis Method Therapy at The Davis Center

The Tomatis Method (Tomatis®)

What is The Tomatis Method?

Tomatis® was developed approximately 50 years ago by Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a French physician. He discovered the connection between the voice, the ear, and the brain and found that the voice produces what the ear hears. This new insight became known as the Tomatis Effect. His method is based upon this effect and is an innovative program of sound stimulation. The program combines listening to music that is filtered and gated through his Electronic Ear, using one's voice, and a specially patented headphone that incorporates air and bone conduction sound transmission.

Who can benefit from The Tomatis Method?

Children and adults who want improvement in the areas of language, communication, learning, listening, vestibular, oral motor, and emotional growth. Specifically, this method has helped children with auditory processing weaknesses that may include localization of sound, pitch sound discrimination, speech discrimination, listening in background noise, receptive language, expressive language, auditory sequential memory, vestibular/balance weaknesses, proprioceptive issues, oral motor weaknesses, coordination, and rhythm issues.

Additionally, The Tomatis Method can enhance the learning of foreign languages, and with voice work. Teachers of foreign language, actors, musicians, and professional speakers have utilized the method to enhance their skills by using their voice to modulate what their ear is hearing. Adults have also used The Tomatis Method for personal growth.

Clients have reported less depression, higher levels of energy and motivation, better performance on the job, and greater clarity of mind.

Why does The Tomatis Method work?

Listening is the active ability, intention, and desire to focus on the sounds that we want to analyze and to reject the ones we do not want. Hearing is the passive reception of sound. The Tomatis Method does not concern itself with hearing, but with the functional, social, and psychological factors that bear on listening, communication, language, motor control, learning and health in general. This method works on establishing connections between the ear, the brain, and the body.

The Tomatis Method works simultaneously on 3 levels:

Functional: Establishing good functional use of both vestibular and cochlear listening. Vestibular: perceives and processes input of internal information through posture and body movement. Cochlear: perceives and processes input of external information through language.
Emotional: Establishes emotional desire to use the auditory system, not tune out.
Relational: Both the functional and emotional systems improve the relational aspect of the individual to self, others, and the environment.

What does The Tomatis Method involve?

The Tomatis Method involves a minimum of two (2) listening sessions, called intensives, lasting 15 days each. Or these intensives can be broken into 15, 8, and 7 day sessions, separated by a 3 to 6 week break. Each day of the intensive involves two (2) hours of listening through special headsets via bone and air conduction. Clients listen to audiocassette tapes with pre-programmed sounds of Mozart, Gregorian chant, and a filtering of the mother’s voice, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Sounds are modified by patented equipment that often filter or block specific frequencies. Some individual listening protocols include live microphone work and a recorded tape of the mother's voice. The client’s initial evaluation, listening tests, consultations, and parental and the Listening Trainer’s daily observation forms are used to determine the individual listening protocol. Protocols may be modified at any time during an intensive. Some clients benefit greatly from a continuation or booster program, which may last 15, 8, or 7 days.

Why use The Davis Center?

Clients benefit from the staff's diagnostic capability to determine the right mix of therapies for the individual. For example, Tomatis® can be used alone or as a follow up therapy to Auditory Integration Training (AIT).

Dorinne S. Davis MA, CCC-A, FAAA, Founder of The Davis Center, has been trained in Paris, France, at the Tomatis International Headquarters and is a certified Tomatis Practitioner. Additionally, Dorinne was trained by Dr. Billie Thompson, who founded the Sound Listening and Learning Center™ in Phoenix, AZ, and Pasadena, CA. Dr. Thompson was instrumental in bringing the Tomatis Method to the United States and under her supervision, The Davis Center is able to use Dr. Tomatis’ patented equipment and procedures, which allows them to be a permanent Outreach Center for the Sound Listening and Learning Center.

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