Spectrum Center, Bethesda, Maryland (phone 301 657-0988)
DELIVERY OF THE METHOD:
The Tomatis training is delivered through headphones which have a special
bone conductor on the top. Music is played on a tape recorder which is
connected to a machine called the electronic ear. The music is gradually
filtered over a period of several day until only the frequencies above
8000Hz. remain. The music used is largely Mozart. Because of the inherent
high frequencies in Mozart's in particular, it makes the gating mechanism
in the electronic ear function optimally. Once the ear is attuned to listening
to high frequencies, we introduce a tape of the mother voice, that is specially
recorded through the electronic ear. The importance of the mothers voice
has already been explained. We also play the mother's voice tape with all
frequencies below 8000HZ filtered out. It then sounds like cricket's chirping,
yet all the rhythm, timing and intonation of the mothers speech pattern
are still present. In addition we play Gregorian Chants because they do
not have a tempo, or a pre-imposed beat and therefore are more consistent
with the rhythms of a relaxed respiration and heart beat.
The progression of the program is the same for all clients, as the developmental
process in acquiring language is universal. Only the amount of time in
each phase of the program varies, depending on the diagnosis and level
of progress that is observed. The process is one of slowly filtering the
music over a period of several days. This is follow by a period of listening
to filtered music and Gregorian chants.
After the period of listening to filtered music we gradually defilter
the music and re-introduce the ear to listening in an air conduction environment.
This is when we start the microphone work with the child. In doing this
we are following the developmental sequence of birth where the child first
learns audio-vocal control in an air conduction, non liquid environment.
By hearing their voice through the electronic ear, which modifies the voice
to reproduce accurate listening, they learn to develop a more accurate
perception and ultimately improved control, of their own voice.
Copyright Valerie Dejean, 1997-2004.