The Tomatis Effect
The new Solisten® provides the Tomatis® Effect, the well known result of the work of Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis (1920-2001).
Dr. Tomatis, a French Ear, Nose and Throat physician, pioneered a multi-disciplinary science called Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP) over 50 years ago. His work resulted from his curiosity about the influence of the human ear on a healthy mind and body. Tomatis noted that language learning begins with a mother’s voice in the womb.
He developed, researched and proved his theory: the voice only produces what the ear hears. His theory was independently confirmed at the Sorbonne in 1957 and became known as the Tomatis Effect. The Tomatis Effect is summarized in three Tomatis laws:
- The voice only contains what the ear can hear.
- If the hearing is modified, the voice is immediately and unconsciously modified.
- It is possible to durably transform phonation when auditive stimulation is maintained over a certain time (the law of duration or remanence).
Tomatis was very interested in retraining the ear to re-gain sounds that are either weak or lost. These losses could result from a difficult pregnancy or birth, early childhood colds and illnesses, accidents, living near loud sounds, emotional trauma, or a myriad of experiences that alter how a person hears sounds. Tomatis’ curiosity led him to experiment with classical music and different ranges of sound.
He discovered that listening problems are the root cause of many learning difficulties. Ultimately, Tomatis developed a highly effective technique to remedy learning concerns called the Tomatis Method, and the Electronic Ear, proprietary electronic equipment to stimulate the ear. The Solisten program employs the Tomatis Method and, at minimum, is 60 hours of listening given in two 15-day intensives. You may find an extensive list of research, case studies and articles on the Tomatis work at www.tomatisassociation.org, and a sampling of them in our Resource section.
A New Understanding of the Ear
The Tomatis Method is based on a new understanding of the ear which draws a critical distinction between listening and hearing. Listening is a high level cognitive function connecting the ear to a healthy brain.
Listening Versus Hearing – The Tomatis Effect
Hearing is the passive reception of sound while listening is the active participation in what one hears. It is possible to have good hearing, but poor listening. Dr. Tomatis found that by improving your listening, you can improve your day-to-day functioning in many areas.
The ear plays a unique and critical role in our daily living. The positive effects of good listening are far-reaching and are based on key physiological understandings, which have become known over the last few decades. For instance:
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The ear is the first organ to grow in utero and is fully functional at 4 ½ months gestation.
- Sound is critical in normal human development, particularly language development.
- The ear and nervous system are intricately connected.
- The ear is connected to the body through three tracts Tomatis called integrators:
- Vestibular (or somatic) integrator for body image, movement
- Visual (or spatial) integrator for ear/eye connection
- Cochlear (or linguistic) integrator for brain stimulation
Tomatis proved, and we now understand, that if you change the ear, you affect all of the body’s major organs. These changes, in turn, can produce revolutionary changes in how we function. People of all ages can imagine new possibilities, expand their capabilities, and realize their dreams.
How Does the Tomatis Effect Improve Listening?
The pedagogical tool of the Tomatis Method is called the Electronic Ear. The Electronic Ear is a system which takes advantage of and reactivates the strategies involved in perceptive organization and in the management of one’s sound environment which the brain is normally able to use when listening is undisturbed.
Dr. Tomatis found that listening is disturbed when there is a dysfunction of the two muscles located in the middle ear. The role of these muscles is to enable the precise and harmonious integration of acoustic information in the inner ear, and from there to the brain. When the brain is disturbed, it triggers protective mechanisms which inhibit listening.
Solisten stimulates the middle ear muscles and starts the change process that the Tomatis Effect provides.
Clinical vs. Empirical Data on the Tomatis Effect
Many professionals find the underlying science behind the Tomatis Effect critical to their acceptance of its profound effectiveness. So far, many of the available clinical studies are in foreign languages, difficult to find, or directed to just one result. These results can be helpful for a specific subject, but not applicable across all situations. While there are clinical studies in progress as we write, they are incomplete.
You will find excellent bibliographical references on the website of the International Association of Registered and Certified Tomatis Consultants (www.TomatisAssociation.org) and further resources in our Resource section.
H.A. Stutts, in a review of the current Tomatis research (1983) revealed that the Method may lead to an increase in I.Q, better communication and reading skills and the ability to express verbally thoughts and feelings.