Listening Techniques

The historical development of listening techniques began with Alfred Tomatis, a French ENT physician. His method is based on filtered sound, the effects of high frequency on the whole nervous system. He recognizes the work of Dr. Ayres in many of his writings. Extensive research has led to understanding the close relationship between the human psyche and sound. Tomatis uses filtered classical music, especially by the composer Mozart, as well as the mother voice, and Gregorian chant. His success has been extensive in the treatment of developmental problems, social contact problems, as well as voice problems, speech impediments, and even autism respond with improvement.

Dr. Guy Berard, a French medical doctor, who trained with Dr. Tomatis, felt that the Tomatis method was too lengthy and he developed a different method of filtering sound. Auditory integration Training (AIT) is the technique he developed to be used to treat people with auditory processing problems. Doctor Berard and his technique gained worldwide fame in 1990 with the publication of Annabel Stehli's biography of her daughter Georgia, ("The Sound of a Miracle"). Ms. Stehli described how her severely autistic daughter, Georgia, had shed most, if not all, of her autistic behaviors following a course of 20 AIT treatments in Doctor Berard's clinic.

Many researchers consider "Listening" to be a form of sensory integration that uses sound vibration to stimulate brain processing. In the past ten years, there has been much research to indicate that many individuals have sensory dysfunctions in one or more areas including the senses of touch, movement, smell, taste, hearing, and vision. These senses might be hypersensitive and/or hyposensitive to stimulation. The senses facilitate our understanding of the world and enhance skill development. Sensory processing problems impact the mastery of fine and gross motor skill and social/emotional development.

The Samonas method was developed by Ingo Steinbach, a German sound engineer with an extensive background in music and physics. His interest in the human ear and music led him to study the work of Dr. Tomatis. In an effort to make therapeutic listening more available he founded the sound studio, Lamdona, in Germany. He wanted recordings to be as realistic and spatially expansive as the sounds heard in a concert hall. He felt this was an important component in the healing process. He noticed that by heightening his attention to the structural elements contained in all natural sounds, and capturing them in his recordings, immediate listening was accomplished even in unfiltered music. He likened listening to whole natural sounds versus electronically processed sounds to eating whole natural foods versus overly processed foods. He developed special technology to capture music as sound in space and combined his spectral activation process with Tomatis' method of filtering.

All listening techniques involve listening to specifically modulated music through head phones. They are modulated and filtered by electronic means. Tomatis progressively filters out low frequency sounds for varying lengths of time. In the Berard method, the sound frequencies are distorted/modulated at random intervals for random periods of time. Both the Tomatis and Berard methods are costly and dependent on a treatment facility. The Ingo Steinbach (Samonas) method is available on compact discs that can be played on disc players with good quality headphones and can be done in a treatment facility, home, and school.

There are many theories as to why "Listening" words. Tomatis originally focused on the ear's connection to voice and later focused on emotion and psychological development. Since language develops with hearing, Guy Berard focuses on the language system and behavior. Samonas focuses on optimal structure of natural sound (music/sound in space) and its effects on the entire being. While the language system of the brain is definitely important, it is important to know that the movement of receptors in the middle ear are responsive to vibration. The movement system has tremendous effect on total brain functioning. The choclear and vestibular systems together function to provide the perception of time and space against what all other sensation is referred. Occupational therapists who use sensory integration theory in their practice acknowledge the integrative potential of sound and music.

The following areas of change have been noted during or following "Listening":

• Arousal, Attending, and Focus
• Receptive and Excessive Language
• Speed of Processing for Motor and Language
• Pragmatic language
• Balance and coordination
• Praxis which is composed of the following:
  • Coming up with an idea;
  • Planning how to carry it out;
  • Sequencing and timing the tasks; and,
  • Completing the task
• Affect; Facial expression and responsiveness - they come alive
• Motivation
• Awareness of the environment
• Gravitational security (decrease in the fear of movement and an increase in understanding of place in space, relationship to objects in space, and moving through space).
• Modulation of ability to stay calm while receiving sensations. Decreased sensory defensiveness (sound, touch, movement, etc.)
• Organization
• Self-initiation of play and work behaviors, and verbal interaction
• Social and emotional development
• Eye contact and tracking
• Decrease in self-stimulating behaviors
• Independence
• Feeding skills
• Eating and sleeping patterns

Improved awareness and regulation of hunger and thirst patterns.

All of these areas are impacted by the effect of the movement and sound on brain function.