Tomatis training for children is an listening training therapy that is administered in the “Neurological Clinic of Dr. Yatsenko” using a special Solisten® system (the latest generation device in the “Tomatis” line of equipment). The method was created by the French doctor Alfred Tomatis.

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED IT?

Listening training is prescribed to children with speech development delay, alalia, autism, stuttering and other speech problems; as well as children who have lowered their hearing on high-frequency sounds.

WHAT PROBLEM DOES IT SOLVE?

Some children often have disturbance of high frequency sounds perception. Due to the fact that the child does not hear many consonant sounds, the formation of his own speech is disrupted.

Another problem: not all children can well perceive speech in ambient noise, for example, in the classroom. Sometimes a child looks inattentive because his brain can not separate important auditory information from a secondary one.

There are children who mostly listen with the right ear. There are those who listen mostly with the left ear. The right ear is connected with the left hemisphere of the brain, in which the speech zones are located (in right-handed people). If the child listens more with the left ear, the information first enters the right hemisphere, then to the left. It takes more time. In addition, along the way, sounds can be slightly distorted, especially high frequency sounds. This makes it difficult to understand what was heard.

With the help of training, the right ear can become the leading one. This discovery, made by A. Tomatis, became widely used and was recorded as the “Tomatis effect” at the French Academy of Medicine.

When we think about our ears, we usually focus on the process of listening. This, of course, is the most obvious function, but apart from listening, the ear performs several more important functions that need to be considered.

One of the most important functions of the ear is the vestibular one. The vestibular apparatus takes part in the control of balance, coordination of movements; regulates muscle tone and the muscles of the eye. Thanks to the vestibular apparatus, we are able to navigate in the surrounding space.

The vestibular apparatus is also an important transmitter of sensory information coming from our body to the brain. Children with vestibular problems often have difficulty in transmitting sensory information.

The other part of the inner ear is cochlea which performs the function of a sound analyzer, which is especially important for understanding speech.

The vestibular apparatus and the cochlea are interconnected and act as a relay station between the nervous system and the brain, being responsible for the transmission of all sensory information. Tactile, visual and auditory signals enter the brain through the vestibular apparatus and cochlea, regulating the activity of the brain.

The peculiarities of the interaction of the vestibular apparatus and the cochlea, as well as their role in the proper functioning of the brain, are used in administration of the Tomatis method.

The Tomatis also draws our attention to the fact that high-frequency sounds excite the brain, whereas low-frequency sounds, on the contrary, contribute to energy leakage.

The Tomatis notes that when our brain is “well-charged,” we can achieve greater focusing and concentration; better organizing, remembering, learning and working for long periods of time with almost no tension.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

The method is convenient because it does not require any effort from the child. A kid with headphones listens to music. At the same time, he can do any quiet things: play with plasticine, paint and draw, play with building kit etc.

A special device – Solisten® (the latest development of the company “Tomatis”) allows modifying the sounds of music with the help of special filters. High-frequency and low-frequency components are alternately “cut out” from the usual sound. These changes are almost unnoticeable when listening to music. But when a child listens to such a record, the muscles of his middle ear are trained by alternating their tension and relaxation.

During training, the child hears the music through the headphones. In addition, the sound is transmitted with a help of a special vibration device attached to the headphones. This phenomenon is called “bone conduction.” Due to bone conduction, sound enters directly into the inner ear. So the inner ear gets prepared to perceive sound transmitted through the outer ear and the tympanic membrane.

Mozart’s music and Gregorian chants records are used for training.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

The important role of the inner ear is to provide the brain with energy. Sounds of high frequency passing through the cochlea during training stimulate the brain and make it work more efficiently.

The Tomatis method naturally affects the brain auditory system. This leads to improved learning ability; development of attention, communication skills, ability to read; understanding of what was heard; helps the brain to better process information received from all sensory organs.

The Tomatis method allows restoring impaired coordination and motility in children who have problems with movement and balance.

WHAT IS THE NOVELTY AND DIFERENCE FROM THE OTHERS?

“Neurological clinic of Dr. Yatsenko” was one of the first in Ukraine to start using the Tomatis method in its improved form – the latest equipment of the company “Tomatis” for listening training therapy – Solisten®.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE?

Training should be long, as the brain learns only after 40-45 hours. The necessary training consists of three 15 days courses (2 hours per day) with a 1 month break between courses.

Children from 3 years old can have this therapy.