TOMATIS ®

WELCOME
BOOKLET

© 2020 TOMATIS DEVELOPPEMENT S.A.

FIND A TOMATIS® PROFESSIONAL
IN OVER75 COUNTRIES

The Tomatis® Method is not considered to be medical treatment or a diagnostic tool. Practicing the Tomatis® Method is not a reason to stop medical treatment without your
doctor’s recommendation. The contents of this brochure are for informational purposes only, do not constitute medical advice, and have no contractual value.
Only the professionals listed on the website www.tomatis.com are authorized to practice the Tomatis ® Method. TOMATIS ® is a registered trademark.
 A FEW WORDS BEFORE BEGINNING

Sixty years ago, the ENT Alfred Tomatis developed a method to

restore listening skills. This program, to which Tomatis devoted his
life, consists of specific listening sessions. Your own voice, or music
is modified in real time to naturally train your brain to enhance your
motor, emotional, and cognitive abilities.

This effect occurs because of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s

capacity to create new connections following specialized, sustained,
and repeated stimuli. Considered a forerunner to modern
neuroscience, Alfred Tomatis is cited as a reference by many
researchers and scientists. His method is now used all over the world.

“We can hear well, but listen poorly.” 

Alfred Tomatis

The Tomatis® Method is a complementary program and may be used in conjunction with other programs or approaches.
The Tomatis® professional that you work with may have their own specialization and treatment plan.
 YOUR PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 3

After the first session, you will take a break of at least 4 weeks. After each session that follows, the duration
3 of the break increases.
During these breaks, you can be invited to continue stimulation with the Forbrain ® or the Soundsory ®
headsets.

Each listening session generally lasts 14 days with 80 minutes of listening each day. These sessions are performed at
home with TALKSUP®. The sessions consist of music that has been customized to your listening profile.
2 As you go along, the program evolves, incorporating active sessions of reading and/or repetition.

Your preliminary interview will last about 2 hours. During this interview with a professional trained in the Tomatis ® Method, you will be
1 asked to share your personal history or that of your child. At this time, you may also be tested to determine your listening profile.
This session will allow you to think about a Tomatis ® course, to set goals, and to define your expectations. Each session is followed by
an interview in order to adjust the course as needed.

The Program
Your course is personalized by a Tomatis® professional and can vary greatly depending on your goals and profile. As a result of this
personalization, the number and duration of listening sessions and scheduled breaks can change significantly.
 OVERVIEW AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

You’ll start with an overview session which lasts approximately 1½ - 2 hours. This individual session will serve as an
opportunity for testing. Each professional will utilize all the appropriate testing materials. Your Tomatis ® professional
may ask that you participate in evaluations specific to the Tomatis ® Method.
These tests are designed to determine your listening profile, personalize your treatment plan, and help to measure your
progress along the way.

Tomatis® Listening Test System (TLTS) Tomatis® Evaluation Database (TED)

This listening test reveals the way in which you perceive sound. This online questionnaire was created for evaluating children.
You will be presented with sound stimuli through bone It consists of a series of psycho pedagogical questions which
conduction or air conduction. caregivers must answer in relation to the child.

Depending on the test, you will be asked to respond verbally, or The questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes and
with a gesture. Each ear is tested individually. Together, these permit your professional to target problems and evaluate
results create your listening profile.  progress.

During the course of your program, several individual sessions are offered, which serve as the key to reaching your program goals.
They aim to customize the program based on your test results, your own feedback, and your progress.
 SESSIONS

Listening Sessions (Passive Phase)

These sessions will serve as the majority of your

sessions. The music presented is composed mostly
of Mozart, which is filtered and modified. The music
is transmitted by bone conduction while wearing
specialized headphones.

You will perceive sound contrasts that modify the

timbre and intensity while maintaining the rhythm
and melody. These contrasts produce a naturally The number, duration, and the type of material
stimulating effect for your brain and improve your covered during the sessions are customized to your
listening. listening profile and your program goals.

BREAKS Listening Sessions (Active Phase)

Between each session, you will take a break for
several weeks. These breaks are called “Integration
Phases.”
They were be followed by tests and interim
interviews before a new session begins.
In these sessions, you will read, repeat, discuss or
even sing while your voice is instantly changed and
transmitted according to specific settings. This
allows you to hear your own voice modified in real
time.
The activities you perform during these sessions
are dependent on your personal listening profile and
your goals.
 TIPS & GOOD PRACTICES
BEFORE YOUR LISTENING SESSIONS
● Be sure to allow sufficient time to
complete your entire session from
start to finish.
● Be sure that the device’s battery is
well-charged to avoid any
interruptions.
● Make sure that the headband fits
snuggly against your skull to benefit
from bone conduction transmission
of the sounds.
● Be sure that your headphones are on
correctly (right earpiece goes over
the right ear)
● Adjust the volume so that it’s
comfortable. It should not be too
loud or too soft. If you’re adjusting
the volume for someone else, be
sure that you have the same hearing
and auditory sensitivities as them.
● Record the session number and what
you do on the page provided in this
booklet.
o Avoid beginning your sessions at
bedtime.
DURING YOUR LISTENING SESSIONS
We recommend that during your
listening sessions, you avoid doing
other activities that require
concentration or that might generate
stress. Such activities can vary
depending on the person. For example,
some children or adults enjoy puzzles
while others do not and experience
stress from attempting them. You can
be creative with your activities or simply
enjoy the music.
● Feel free to move, walk or dance.
● Feel free to be creative: draw, paint,
or do other kinds of arts and crafts.
● Feel free to play games such as
playing cards, board games, puzzles,
or Lego®.
o Avoid chewing gum or snacking
during sessions.
o Avoid watching screens (TV,
computer, or phone).
o Avoid doing sessions while you are
travelling (in a car, bus, or train).
 ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Introduce the headphones and the
music to the child.
Bone conduction is an intriguing concept.
Explain to the child that our bones can be
used to transmit sound to our brains.
Have them hold the headband to feel the
vibrations. They can also use the
headphones while plugging their ears to
feel the music transmitted directly through
the top of the skull.
Explain that bone conduction creates a
direct connection with the brain,
bypassing the ears. The sound contrasts
can be surprising and to better
understand them you can take a few
minutes of listening during which the child
notifies you when they detect changes in
the sounds.
Explain that the brain is very sensitive to
these changes, and this is the best way to
capture its attention; just like when we
snap our fingers to get another person’s
attention.
Introduce the listening sessions to the
child.
To elicit interest from your child, it’s a
good idea to show them that you can use
the headphones too. This is motivating to
children and helps them be more
comfortable with the idea of daily use.
Since the headphones are wireless, you
can follow the sessions simultaneously
with the child (check with your
professional first).
Show them that they are not the only ones
making an effort and that everyone can
benefit from this program.
What to do during sessions with a
child.
Listening sessions are an excellent
opportunity to share a moment with the
child when life is so frequently busy.
Try to plan activities that they enjoy such
as painting, drawing, building blocks, or
Lego® construction.
Conversely, for some children, this may be
an opportunity to go into their “bubble”
and have a few moments alone.
 POSTURE DURING READING

Depending on your posture, the timbre and rhythm of your voice can change significantly.
Your listening and your voice are also impacted. Here are some suggestions to optimize your reading and repetition exercises.

FOR ADULTS FOR CHILDREN

Head: your head should rest
comfortably above your spine. The child can imagine
Like you are suspended from a that they’re a tree. Their
string! feet are the roots
reaching into the ground,
their back is the
straightened trunk, and
their head is the foliage.
Lips: round the lips forward and Mime the rain coming
avoid straining the back of the Back: sit straight without down to water the tree and
neck. Like you are touching your over-rounding or pressing watch them grow, grow
lips to a microphone. too firmly into the chair grow!
with the lower back. As if
you have the tail of a
kangaroo and you’re sitting
Stomach: breathe on it!
gently while using your .
diaphragm to allow
your stomach to move Feet: your feet are flat on
in and out slowly. the ground and are spaced
Like the waves of the sea! apart the same width as
your hips. Like being rooted
into the ground!
 WHAT TO LISTEN TO

The Music. The music chosen for the sessions is mostly extracts from the works of Mozart. This music is dynamic and rich with
harmonics, thus perfectly suited to the dynamic filter. Mozart’s music is also universally appreciated. Other types of music can be used
including waltzes, rhythmic songs, or Gregorian chants.

Sound Contrasts (dynamic filter). The brain is particularly sensitive to sudden, unanticipated changes. During Tomatis ® listening
sessions, the music changes suddenly in its tone, timbre, and intensity. These changes are virtually undetectable for the brain and
therefore create the effect of surprise. In response, the brain develops its ability to detect these changes which is very important for
improving attention. You can witness the dynamic filter in use by watching the blue and green lights on your headphones, which blink
during sound modification.

The Transmission of Sound. Sound is vibration. When this vibration is in the air, we call it air conduction. Air conduction is the way in
which we naturally perceive external sounds (for example, listening to music through headphones). But when this vibration is
transmitted through bone, we call it bone conduction. We can perceive the sound while plugging our ears with our fingers or placing one
hand on top of the skull. During Tomatis® listening sessions, music (or the voice) is also transmitted by air conduction and bone
conduction. While the brain is perceiving sound signals arriving via bone conduction, the analysis of the sound signals arriving via air
conduction are also facilitated.

Favor the right ear. The left ear is connected to the right side of the brain and the right ear is connected to the left side of the brain. One
ear usually predominates. Depending on our predominance, the analysis of the stimulus is not the same, and influences the way we
process information. We now know that favoring the right ear over the left strengthens learning and communication skills. Thanks to
the specific settings used, the Tomatis® Method favors the right ear by modulating the intensity of the sound in each ear. Work on
auditory laterality with the Tomatis® method is not systematic.

Utilize the Mother’s Voice. From the 18th week of gestation, the fetus is capable of hearing. The voice of the mother reaches the fetus
through vibrations in the vertebral column. The fetus, as it becomes a baby, will integrate all the characteristics of the mother’s voice
such as her timbre, intensity, rhythm, and tone… . The mother’s voice is a fundamental source of sensory stimulation. In certain cases,
when possible, your Tomatis® professional may wish to record the mother’s voice and apply it to the dynamic filter for use during
sessions.
 WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

The Tomatis® Method is a natural, noninvasive sensory stimulation approach. Regardless of the program offered by the
professional, there is absolutely no risk of hearing loss. The ears are powerful tool for processing sensory information, and
this means that they are well-connected to the brain.

The Tomatis® Method aims to optimize the ears’ potential to help train the brain. What you may feel in terms of mood, energy,
and concentration can vary greatly from person to person. Here are some explanations of the processes behind the
subconscious changes that occur with the Tomatis ® Method.

● The Tomatis® Method is a program. It aims to train the brain by giving it opportunity to process sensory stimulation. Like any learning process, it
requires time and repetition. This can result in feeling impatient or fatigued.
● The Tomatis® Method is a workout. Our ears work as a result of muscles that are both the smallest and the fastest in the entire human body. The
Tomatis ® Method aims to develop these muscles to their full potential. At the end of a session, some people may feel fatigued as a result of this
muscular effort. On the other hand, some people may feel immediate well-being.
● The Tomatis® Method is sensory stimulation training. Remember that sound is vibration. The role of the inner ear is to convert this vibration into
electrical impulses. The musical component of the Tomatis ® Method promotes the transmission of high-pitched sounds that are particularly
effective in stimulating the brain. This intense stimulation can result in temporary fatigue, or conversely—a boost of energy.
● The Tomatis® Method is a psycho-educational program. The goal is to help the brain better analyze sensory information. This analysis has an
important emotional dimension since everyone processes this information according to their own experiences and feelings. By promoting
listening, we can be quickly overwhelmed by the sensory information our brain must now learn to process. Some people sense new emotions that
they find difficult to grasp and verbalize. This can result in irritability and stress. This is called “disorganization before reorganization.”

Experiencing one or more of these effects can be explained by the creation of new neural pathways, which initiates future progress. Therefore, it’s
important to follow the program to completion, and to share your feelings with your Tomatis ® professional, who can adapt the program as needed. If
there is too much discomfort, we recommend that you stop the program temporarily while discussing the experience with your professional.
 YOUR EQUIPMENT

Getting Started with TalksUp®

Your TalksUp® has been programmed by your Tomatis® professional. Here is how to use it:

Getting Started
● Connect the wire from the headset to the mini jack.
● To turn the device on, press and then release the On/Off button.
● Press “Program.”
● To get started, click on the corresponding day (DAY 1, DAY 2, etc.)
● Press “STOP” twice to stop the program.
● To turn off your device, go back to the home page and press the On/Off button.
Know-how
● After 30 seconds without activity, the screen automatically locks. Slide your finger across the screen to unlock it.
● In case of inactivity of 3 minutes or longer, the device goes to sleep (this may occur during navigation or reading). Press the on/off button to
reactivate it.
Battery
● Your device has an 8-hour battery life. Plan to recharge your device when the battery life light displays two green squares. Note that you cannot
charge the device during a session.
● The maximum time the device can be charged is 5 hours. In order to recharge the battery, the device must be turned on. It will automatically shut
down once charging is complete.
Precautions
● Do not use an object (such as a stylus) to navigate the touch screen.
● Leave the device in it’s protective cover during sessions.
● For children, it is recommended to attach the device to a belt to facilitate movement.
● To recharge the battery, use only the charger and cable provided.
● If the device crashes, turn it off and then back on.
● Do not lend your device to another person.
 TALKSUP® CONNECTIONS
Mini USB port for connecting to
charger and electrical outlet
On/Off Button
Microphone port to connect
microphone during active sessions
Audio Port for connecting Tomatis ®
headphones directly, or a wireless
transmitter for wireless connection
of Tomatis® headphones.
Connecting TalksUp® Bluetooth
Certain TalksUp® devices are equipped with
Bluetooth® technology to use Tomatis®
headphones wirelessly.
On the home screen, click “Settings.” You can
activate Bluetooth® technology by sliding the
button to the left or right.
If you disactivate Bluetooth®, you will need to
connect the headphones with the cable
provided.

Indicates the volume level.
The volume is adjusted
using the dial on the
headphones.
Be careful not to reverse the
right and left side.
NAVIGATION
Indicates the connection Indicates the remaining Volume adjustment. This ● Press the “Play” button
and adjustable volume listening time—daily or feature can be blocked by to being a session.
for the microphone. per session—depending your professional. ● Press the “Stop” button
on the setting chosen by Important : If you connect to discontinue the
the professional. your BT Headphones to a session.
TalksUp® by cable, the ● Press the “Pause” button
volume adjustment must to pause listening.
be done on the TalksUp®
device, and not on the
headphones.
 YOUR APPOINTMENTS

Evaluation DATE TIME:

First Session:

Interview DATE TIME:

2nd Session:

Interview DATE TIME:

3th Session:
 Name:
Complete the following two pages and give them to your
Session Number: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
professional at the end of each session.
Date:

How did you feel at the end

of your session? 1 being the
Your Comments (share your thoughts at the end of a session)
worst and 5 being the best.

Day 1 1 2 3 4 5

Day 2 1 2 3 4 5

Day 3 1 2 3 4 5

Day 4 1 2 3 4 5

Day 5 1 2 3 4 5

Day 6 1 2 3 4 5

Day 7 1 2 3 4 5
 How did you feel at the end
of your session? 1 being the
Your Comments (share your thoughts at the end of a session)
worst and 5 being the best.

Day 8 1 2 3 4 5

Day 9 1 2 3 4 5

Day 10 1 2 3 4 5

Day 11 1 2 3 4 5

Day 12 1 2 3 4 5

Day 13 1 2 3 4 5

Day 14 1 2 3 4 5

Other Comments:
 DIPLOMA
1
LISTENING SESSION

The TOMATIS® Team congratulates

for successfully completing Listening Session #1

DATE SIGNATURE
 DIPLOMA
2
LISTENING SESSION

The TOMATIS® Team congratulates

for successfully completing Listening Session #2

DATE SIGNATURE
 DIPLOMA
3
LISTENING SESSION

The TOMATIS® Team congratulates

for successfully completing Listening Session #3

DATE SIGNATURE
 DIPLOMA
4
LISTENING SESSION

The TOMATIS® Team congratulates

for successfully completing Listening Session #4

DATE SIGNATURE