Dr. Alfred Tomatis

The original Tomatis® Method is based on the work of Alfred A. Tomatis, MD (1920 - 2001). Dr. Tomatis, a French Ear, Nose and Throat physician, pioneered a multi-disciplinary science called Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP) over 60 years ago. His work resulted from his curiosity about the vital influence of the human ear on a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Tomatis noted that the ear is the first organ to grow in utero and as a result, a fetus begins to hear sound and learn language from its mother’s voice.

Tomatis concluded that overall human health sources from the health of one’s ear. He developed, researched and proved his theory: the voice only produces what the ear hears. His theory was independently confirmed at the Sorbonne in 1957 and became known as the Tomatis Effect.

Tomatis summarized his theories in three laws:

1. The voice only contains what the ear can hear.
2. If the hearing is modified, the voice is immediately and unconsciously modified; and
3. It is possible to durably transform phonation when auditive stimulation is maintained over a certain time (the law of duration or remanence).

“And yes! Now I understand how the ear grows the brain.”
— Don Campbell Preface to The Conscious Ear

Tomatis imagined re-training the ear to re-gain sounds that are either weak or lost in hearing, and he found a way to do it. These losses could result from a difficult pregnancy or birth, early childhood colds, and illnesses, accidents, living near loud sounds, emotional trauma, or a myriad of experiences that alter how a person hears sounds. His curiosity led him to experiment with classical music and different ranges of sound. He discovered that listening problems are the root cause of many learning difficulties. Ultimately, Tomatis developed a highly effective technique to remedy learning concerns–the Tomatis Method–and proprietary equipment to provide auditory re-training.