Method "Tomatis": help of speech therapist-defectologist and psychologist

Alfred Tomatis was born in France in 1920. Childhood, held behind the scenes of the opera house, where his father sang, appears to have caused his interest in hearing impairments. Subsequently, he became a famous doctor-phoniatrist and otolaryngologist and already at the age of thirty offered his vision of this problem. The method of "Tomatis", named after the creator, requires more detailed consideration.

How is the human ear?

In his opinion, the ear (the organ of hearing) should be perceived as a generator, the excitement of which turns out to be sound vibrations coming from the external environment. Even then, no one could think about that, the author of how valuable technique will become Tomatis. Therapy (what it is, soon learned the whole world), according to his research, was not similar to anything else.

This generator in turn transfers energy to the brain, and through it to the whole organism. Subsequently, Tomatis collected evidence in favor of the fact that a person whose ear has lost the ability to perceive high frequency sounds (above 7 - 8 kHz) or did not have it due to any pathologies, begins to perceive reality in a different way. The changes that have occurred entail degradation, provoke a decline in energy. In other words, a qualitative change in the signals coming into the body from the outside by means of hearing affects the state of health and functioning of the organs of the body. They do not pass without a trace both for the consciousness and the subconscious of man.

Recovering the ability to hear and listen

In the course of research conducted in the second half of the 20th century, Tomatis came to the conclusion that the lost function can be restored. This was indicated by the following facts: the inner ear is able to regenerate, and the auditory centers of the cerebral hemispheres are rather pliable for this. Another result was the proof that the hearing capacity of a hearing organ can be improved "qualitatively" at birth.

The ability to restore hearing by correcting certain functions was patented as a method of "Tomatis" or ACE (audio-psycho-phonology), now widely known and very popular all over the world. This method has been tested and approved by the scientific and medical communities of different countries. Alfred Tomatis himself helped more than a hundred thousand patients (for example, Gerard Depardieu made forget about stuttering).

ACE for children with abnormalities

At present, this method of "Tomatis" is known all over the world. On all continents there are centers where it is used. People working there specialize in many fields of science, medicine, education, and art. Each of the professionals realizes the importance of passing a specialized methodology. Tomatis - therapy (what it is, it is clear from the above), which is used by thousands of people around the world.

Audio-psycho-phonology has helped a large number of children with hearing problems, verbal disorders, inadequate attention span, autism, motor-motor disorders. Depression also succumb to this method. He helps in the study of languages, increasing efficiency, reducing difficulties in communication, raises the creative potential to a qualitatively new level.

The essence of the method of Tomatis is the delineation of the concepts of "listening" and "hearing". The famous doctor called hearing passive process. Listening is a process that uses ears 100%.

Before starting treatment

Before proceeding to the beginning of the course of treatment, a child or an adult needs to pass the test and get a qualified ACE-consultation from the specialists of the center. Verification is of great importance in the further scheme of the method, because with its help you can learn about the individual capabilities of the person, to reveal the weak and strong sides of the functionality of the organs of hearing.

Since hearing is a process, the normal course of which can be identified only indirectly, it is necessary to know about the list of control skills. They allow us to assess the level of listening abilities in children and adults. To distinguish such signs by the degree of complexity is not accepted, but they can clearly indicate a lack of development of the possibility of hearing.

Principles of action: how does it work?

The course of therapeutic exercises by the method of Tomatis is performed using works for violin written by the Austrian composer - the great Mozart. Special arrangements allow creating explicit contrasts in music, accompanied by sudden absolutely unpredictable changes in the timbre and loudness of the sound, which is a real shock for the brain. The process helps to trigger natural attention mechanisms.

Such audio training is a sensory stimulation, which is much easier to achieve through the headphones. With the help of this headset, the transmission of sound vibrations and vibrations is much more effective due to air and bone conduction. Music, acting on the malleus, stapes and muscles, provokes the motor activity of the cochlea and vestibular membrane. During the supply of sound vibration, an electrical pulse occurs, thanks to which the brain activity is amenable to additional stimulation. In simple terms, the ear filters the music in a certain way, making the auditory system work better.

If a child acts as a patient, then the therapy session looks something like this: a baby is wearing a pair of wireless headphones for a couple of hours (which will allow him to do whatever he wants to: play, run, draw, etc.), in which a special melody sounds Mozart in the right processing.

What is the therapy for Alfred Tomatis?

Children with an excellent hearing may not hear a lot of elementary things, not be able to concentrate on anything, learn badly, read with difficulty. The reason for all this is one: the inability to listen. Today, any school psychologist knows about the effectiveness of the method of Tomatis and recommends the passage of appropriate therapy to these children.

A person who knows how to listen properly, adequately perceives information, sifting unnecessary. Violation of the hearing process leads to problems in training and deformation of social skills.

Tomatis realized the necessity of teaching his patients to the hearing process, which can restore the ability to perceive information and filter out unnecessary information. Tomatis's course as a method has a goal that is to improve the ability of the brain to receive and process information. Restoration and development of this function gives staggering results.

The vector of using the Tomatis method

This technique is also called the pedagogy of listening. It is designed to develop certain abilities and helps to get rid of some symptoms. ACE treats:

• Hearing problems;
• Speech disorders;
• Violation of concentration of attention;
• autism;
• Motor-motor disorders.

As a developmental technique, this method:

• Qualitatively improves creativity;
• Helps to make a leap in the development of the child;
• Works with musical ear and abilities for singing;
• Helps increase the ability to learn in patients of any age;
• Contributes to painless social adaptation;
• Increases the ability of the brain to long-term perception;
• Affects the development of concentration;
• Improves memory.

In addition, repeatedly there have been noticed early changes to the rapid memorization of the characteristics of a foreign language and even getting rid of the accent.

Indications for ACE-therapy

The problems of speech development delay, its disorder, improper pronunciation and stuttering are the main reasons for anxiety that arise in parents and speech therapists-defectologists. It is for their elimination that the Tomatis method is actively working. In addition, this therapy also helps children with autism, anxiety. Most importantly, the impact mechanisms of the "Tomatis" system will help the child to avoid complexities, grounded by an incorrect imbalance of the vestibular and auditory systems.

In addition to auditory and speech abnormalities in children, the technique is able to help adults. The method "Tomatis" is in demand in the treatment of neuroses, distresses and depressions in people of all ages, in the process of improving efficiency and increasing creativity, as a prevention of emotional burnout and fatigue.

Working with hearing can help a person achieve the most unexpected and pleasant changes in life: career growth, return of taste to life, immunity to stress, ability to realize creatively.

Canadian experiment and only positive reviews

Numerous studies have confirmed and continue to confirm the effectiveness of the method. It is difficult to overestimate its importance in eliminating behavioral problems, as well as increasing the ability to learn. More than 400 young and adolescent children in the Canadian Tomatis Center (Toronto) were exposed to auditory therapy. The results of the subsequent testing proved to be more than good. The overwhelming majority of parents admitted that the improvement in the state of their children was clearly pronounced, and they attributed this merit to nothing more than the method that Tomatis invented. The reviews mark positive changes, once again prove the high efficiency and effectiveness of therapy. The figures in the table below are impressive.

Six months later, 83% of respondents managed to retain and even develop the acquired qualities, 14% retained some of the acquired skills, and only 3% of them lost what they had achieved.

The French government for several years allocated funds for the implementation of programs using the method of Tomatis in some schools. In these programs, students with the greatest problems in training participated. It should be noted that the absence of conditions suitable for the introduction and conduct of such studies in these educational institutions did not affect their result. Every school psychologist, as well as parents and teachers, recorded positive dynamics in the development of children and spoke about the usefulness of such activities.

Experiment in South Africa

In 1983, Tomatis's method (to determine its effect) was tested in 30 patients aged 4-14 years by one of the South African rehabilitation centers, which lagged behind in development, but were able to walk and sit. In the framework of the study, serious experiments were carried out. The children were divided into three groups:

1. A-group. Participants were exposed to audio-psycho-phonology (Tomatis method) and sensory pathogens.
2. B-group. Participants underwent musical stimulation (no ACE effect) and sensory pathogens.
3. C-group. Participants were not subjected to any influences.

After it was noted that in the A and B groups, the participants in the experiment increased their mental abilities, but in the A-group the effect was more significant than that of participants from the B-group. Children from the C-group did not show any changes. Moreover, children exposed to the method of Tomatis, the number of spontaneous responses decreased, their speech became more conscious.

Where and how is the APF applied in Russia?

Over the past few years, a number of medical institutions in Russia, with a narrowly specialized specialization, have replenished the arsenal of effective therapeutic methods known to the whole world by the developments of Alfred Tomatis. It is possible to confirm its research at a high level to a few institutions. In particular, the method of "Tomatis" in Moscow practices one of the unique medical centers (by the way, having the corresponding name - "Tomatis-Moscow"). It treats and undergo rehabilitation for people of all ages who have both congenital and acquired disorders of the physical and mental state. The methods of influence on patients allow us to examine the affected areas of the brain and restore the lost functions.

Only highly qualified specialists of the center work with patients. All of them passed a certain refresher course, which is noted in official certificates.

Why is it necessary to choose the method of Tomatis?

Application of ACE is available and simple. The method is completely painless and is based on listening to certain sound compositions (including musical ones). No electronic devices (computer, telephone, ordinary player, etc.) can be used by the method of "Tomatis". The center provides training only with special headphones equipped with an additional device. They work with certain frequencies, affecting the muscles of the inner ear. Instruments for listening to ACE tracks are produced by only a few enterprises in the world.

The choice of tracks for listening and a number of frequencies for the impact are purely individual. This can only be solved by a specialist working with the patient. Every person who has come to the center undergoes a thorough examination and undergoes a psychological and pedagogical test. After this, the development of compositions for corrective work begins. The program can be used both in the center (under the supervision of a specialist) and at home using the "Tomatis" method. Patients' comments with partial self-treatment mark the available possibility of disposing of personal time and no less pronounced positive results.

Correction of violations of the mental plan and related deviations is very painstaking. These ailments do not lend themselves to immediate correction. Duration and individual approach can achieve a shift in the treatment of any disease. The method of "Tomatis" takes pride of place in the gallery of techniques aimed at solving problems associated with brain disorders.