Dr. Alfred Tomatis was an ENT M.D. (ear, nose and throat specialist) whose discoveries are the basis for all auditory training programs. His work helped define the understanding of the ear and its role in communication, learning and brain function. Dynamic Listening is based on the work of Dr. Tomatis.

Three Laws of Dr. Tomatis

Dr Tomatis, based on his observations of thousands of patients, formulated what are now known as the Three Laws of Tomatis:

• The voice only contains that which the ear can hear.
• When lost or compromised frequencies are heard correctly, they are instantly and unconsciously restored to the voice.
• Sufficient auditory stimulation leads to lasting improvement in listening and speaking abilities.

Consider these laws in relation to the quality of different voices -- from inspiring or warming to tiring or shallow -- and the impact begins to be understood. Consider that children with ear problems from infections often have trouble speaking efficiently and learning to read. Or people who struggle with singing on pitch and/or enjoying music may have a compromised ability to hear all available frequencies. It is these laws which begin to provide understanding of some of the results achieved with Dynamic Listening.

A customized and complete program of Dynamic Listening provides sufficient auditory stimulation, enables the auditory processing system to hear sounds more accurately, and results in a richer voice.

There is more!

Core Principles of Dr. Tomatis

The following principals are a summation and distillation of 45 years of research and treatment of thousands of clients. These ideas serve as the underpinnings for the application of Tomatis’ theories. Dynamic Listening works because it is the application of these principals for individuals who in some way have endured a compromised auditory processing system.

1. The ear is a transducer. It converts the physical properties of sound and vibration into electrical properties.

The ear, when functioning properly, is like a battery to the brain that charges the cortex with energy, particularly through the high frequencies.

The vestibular system of the ear is stimulated by the lower frequencies and by bone conduction and this “dynamizes” the body with profound changes in muscle tone, coordination and balance (again, when functioning properly).

2. Sound is a nutrient.

The brain needs this nutrient for cortical stimulation and function just as it needs oxygen and glucose for metabolism and function. The high frequencies in sound have a nourishing and energizing effect on the nervous system.

For people who struggle with low energy, depression or anxiety, they are less likely to be receiving the nourishment available from sound. Dynamic Listening restores the ability of the auditory processing system to receive the nourishment available from sound such as in music, and especially one’s voice.

3. Hearing and Listening are different.

Hearing can be defined as the ability of the ear to perceive a sound at normal thresholds. It is an anatomical and passive function.

Listening is an active process requiring motivation, intention and desire to take in, process and respond to information. Listening involves the ability to tune out distractions and irrelevant sounds. It is a focusing activity. It has impacts on our psychology, our personality and our social skills. It also impacts our physiology with many consequences.

This difference gives rise to the wide variations in a person’s ability to communicate with others and oneself. Dynamic Listening is designed to enhance one’s ability to listen, focus and also tune out unwanted sounds. Changes happen without psychological intervention (though this can be beneficial) that ripple through many aspects of life.

4. A person’s listening ability has enormous consequences, not only with communication, but also with mental alertness, creativity, concentration, memory and socialization. It impacts one’s ability to know oneself, express musically, learn new languages and more.

Dynamic Listening supports and improves the physical mechanisms involved with listening thereby bringing about improvements in all these areas.

5. A cybernetic relationship (a feedback loop) exists between the ear and the voice and is summed up by the Three Laws of Tomatis.

This observation changed dramatically the way singers were treated by Tomatis, and led to effective treatment for autism spectrum challenges, ADD and ADHD, learning disabilities and more.

6. Listening begins prior to birth, at approximately 20 weeks, by which time the ear is fully developed.

The neurological foundations of language are imprinted in utero by the fetus’ ability to listen to the voice of the mother, and tune into it amidst all the other sounds in the womb. The neurological foundations for socialization are also initiated as the fetus listens for and responds to the voice of the mother.

Dynamic Listening often utilizes this principle for children. The results include beneficial changes in behavior, socialization and learning skills.

What Happens with Dynamic Listening in the Body/Mind

The above principles are integrated into the design and application of a Dynamic Listening Program. Many things are happening within the nervous system and the body of the client that have consequences in many ways. A few are listed below.

In the Ear:

The two muscles of the middle ear -- the Tensor Tympani and the Stapedius -- play an essential role in protecting the ear from damage and also in focusing or tuning out. If these muscles are weak, rigid, functioning poorly, or aren’t fully developed, the ability to listen is compromised and the rest of the auditory processing system (all the way up to the cortex) can be affected. Dynamic Listening exercises these muscles and restores efficient function. Among other things, this helps us to be able to pay attention in a busy environment.

Related to Stress:

A branch of the vagus nerve supplies portions of the ear. The vagus nerve operates in the body parasympathetically and controls our homeostatic functions such as heart and lung functions, digestion and other internal organs. Stimulating the vagus nerve via Dynamic Listening decreases excessive sympathetic overflow from stress (i.e., fight or flight) and has a calming and relaxing effect on the nervous system. More energy is then available for thinking, planning and learning. This can impact adults who struggle with stress and anxiety, and also kids with sensory integration challenges, stress and poor results with tests.

Related to Coordination and Balance:

Information from the ear and the eyes have many interconnections in the cerebellum. This area of the brainstem along with the vestibular system in the ear, affects balance, coordination, and fine motor skills. Therefore, when using the Dynamic Listening with children displaying sensory integration disorders and gross motor difficulties we see great improvements. Adults also can experience more effective movement and enhanced movement related skills that they didn’t think possible.

Speed of Processing:

Sound is transmitted through synaptic connections. When there is a delay in any of these synapses processing speed of that information is affected resulting in decreased learning and communication. Children may complain that their teacher talks too fast or they have difficulty following a conversation because they fall behind. Adults often have trouble following conversations or lectures as well. The stimulation provided by Dynamic Listening increases the firing speed of the neurotransmitters allowing these connections to be more efficient, thereby impacting communication and learning skills.

Right Ear Weighting:

The right ear sends information directly to the left hemisphere or language center. The left ear first sends information to the right hemisphere before crossing over to the left. Most children and many adults who are left ear dominant will display hesitation, decreased fluidity and flatter speech due to this longer and inefficient pathway of information to the language center. Dynamic Listening will lead a person to more effective use of the pathways for sound to travel (right ear weighting), which improves tonal quality and fluidity of speech, and also improves musical ability with all kinds of instruments as well as singing.

Related to Attention:

Increased stimulation to the cortex with Dynamic Listening is shown to have an inhibiting or calming effect on an over active system. This is very relevant for those individuals with sensory modulation disorders, hypersensitive systems, ADD and ADHD. Part of what is involved is the Reticular Activating System which receives impulses from the ears, and is impacted by Dynamic Listening. This system is involved in our ability to maintain and change ours states of alertness, consciousness (sleep/wake cycles), focus and attention.

For more information, go to SCIENCE-HOW DLS WORKS page on the Dynamic Listening Systems website.