THE  PROGRAM

Dr. Alfred A. TOMATIS’ Protocol of Auditory Development and Training:
Founded by Alfred  Tomatis, a French ENT (Ear, Nose Throat) specialist, specializing in  hearing and language disorders, His program was created from the work he had been doing since 1947 stretching over several  disciplines: audiology, phonology and psychology. The term  "audio-psycho-phonology" (A.P.P)brought into existence by Dr. Tomatis is closely related to the guiding principles of his program.

Research carried out by  Dr. A. A. Tomatis in the direction of linguistic functioning lead him to techniques that are designed to structure the systems that control voice and language through the function of audition.  This program, which lies  within the scope of Social sciences, is therefore related specifically to the processes of integration of language stemming from the existing  relationship between hearing and phonation.  Phonation is clearly dependent on the auditory system which is, itself related to psyche. These relationships and interdependencies between hearing and  phonation were classified under the name “TOMATIS EFFECT” and became the subject of several discussions with the Academy of Science and the Academy of Medicine of Paris (between 1957 and 1960). One of the fundamental contributions of Dr.  A.A Tomatis in the field of psycholinguistics is his stipulation that any modification of the auditory system will cause a  modification in vocal gesture.

Thus,  by modifying a person’s auditory system using equipment he called "Electronic Ear", Dr. A. A. Tomatis was able to show that it is  possible to transform the language capabilities of an individual and  by the same modify that individuals psyche. He was able to highlight, in no uncertain terms, the cybernetic mechanisms that govern the audio-vocal system. Any sound emission is a controlled  one. This control is possible due to the sensor that is represented in only one of the ears: the right ear. The loop thus created, constitutes the source of all function of the laryngeal system.  This audio-vocal  relationship that exists is the foundation upon which Dr. A. A.  Tomatis built his educational and re-educational programs. By intervening on audition, that is to say, that modifying the sensor of this cybernetic circuit, engages the mechanism of control  that in turn allows for the readjustment of the quality, the flow,  the speed, the rate/rhythm and intonation of the voice. This also ensures the control of semantics which causes fluidity of verbal flow. This privileged position held by the right circuits made it possible for Dr. A. A. Tomatis to determine the characteristics of the directing ear and to give the concept of laterality a whole new  meaning, in turn leading to the question of cerebral  predominance.  Dr. A. A. Tomatis worked out assumptions relating to the cortical mechanisms and their incidences on the nervous system. This established new theories about audio physiology. Dr. A. A. Tomatis reestablished the  enormous potential of the human ear, in particular its function as  transducer to the brain.  The brain performs this function by transforming sound stimulation it receives, into electrical energy intended to feed the  cortex.

Another different, but very significant aspect of the scientific contribution that the work of Dr. A. A. Tomatis represents consists of the discovery of intra-uterine hearing and its impact on the relationship between mother and her child. After numerous experiments with the  help of complex electronic equipment, he managed to reproduce the acoustic bath that a fetus is surrounded by, and was able to deduct  exactly how the fetus reacts to this sound information.  He proved that the ears of a  fetus start forming very early, in order to prepare its functional  activity. Already by the middle of the fourth month of the fetus’ life, its ears can be regarded as operational. Based on this fact, later shown to be true by teams of researchers in various countries, Dr. A. A. Tomatis designed and developed equipment that made it  possible for an individual to perceive the voice of his/her mother as he/she heard it before birth.  The discovery of reliving  this primordial piece of life is a determining factor in the field of psychotherapy.

Based on these discoveries, Dr. A. A.Tomatis invented educational techniques  consisting in modifying the auditory system of an individual in  order to transform his/her language and to thus obtain a  modification of the individual’s psyche. There are various fields of study who are interested in the potential applications of this method, especially those having to do with listening, voice, language and behavior.

Improved listening can be used to improve memory and attention deficits. By putting into  motion the phenomena of auto controls starting from the right circuits, this method intervenes on the processes that regulate concentration. In the case of musicians, reeducating the mechanisms  that analyze sound and control the mechanics therein involved,  considerably improves the musician’s performance.

Whether it involves the  spoken or the sung voice, the reeducation of the audio-phonological circuits leads to an improvement of dysphonics, and of any deficiencies that professional musicians suffer relating to their  work.

Administering specific individualized sound stimulation programs using an “electronic ear”  which allows one to be taken through the various phases of language development one goes through in  intra-uterine life, make it possible to overcome expressive deficiencies such as: stammering and difficulties with articulation just to name a few. Written language can also be corrected as dyslexia, spelling and all related  deficiencies are part of language.  In addition, major disorders  of communication (autism, schizophrenia...) can also, in many cases, find a solution in this program. Last, but certainly not least, an interesting application of this program consists of increased  integration in foreign languages.

This method, on a  relational level, acts, on behavioral disorders appearing in the  form of aggressiveness, lethargy, fatigue, depression and even epilepsy. Intervention in the form of filtered high frequency sounds (which simulate intra-uterine listening) increase cortical charge  energizing the brain, and slowly bringing on right sidedness, helps enormously in the resolution of these problems.

Thus we see that Awaken Listening has a wide variety of uses in the field of psychology. It is used in several countries by specialists in various fields all relating to problems in communication and expression, such as  teachers, linguists, musicians, psychologists, music teachers,  Singers, speech therapists, and even  kinesiologists.

[Home] [About Us] [Awaken Listening] [Languages] [Autism] [Testimonials] [Listening Checklist] [Program Protocol] [Dr. Alfred Tomatis] [Dr. Ron Minson] [FAQ] [DLS Practitioners] [Articles] [Contact Us]