Prior to rehabilitating listening, children or adults will undertake an audio-psycho-phonological evaluation (BAPP). It includes a detailed history of the subject (anamnesis), followed by a series of tests, the main one being the listening test.

A Tomatis specialist then interviews the child and his/her parents or the adult. It is recommended to have both parents, as they are both concerned. The first evaluation lasts about two hours. It is necessary to evaluate the potential of the person and to determine how to re-educate the listening process.

THE PROGRAM

It is divided into two main parts:

THE FIRST PART

At this stage, the subject’s listening is mainly stimulated with Mozart’s music by wearing headphones equipped with a vibrator. Music is used as the first stimulus and is gradually filtered to reproduce the sound environment before birth – sometimes the mother’s voice is used. The aim of the first part is to encourage the person to communicate with the people around him.

The adult can ocupy him/herself in a special room or lie down and get a rest in a sleeping-room. The child can play and talk whilst listening to the recordings. S/he is encouraged to draw. His/her drawings are kept and shown to the Tomatis specialist who will use them to assess the child’s development. The listening sessions are held in a room specially designed for this kind of work.

During the first part, there should be sleeping, eating and behavioural changes. The person should be quieter, more relaxed and more sociable. S/he should be more inclined to speak. Parents observe that the child asks more questions and is keener on doing things, at home and at school.
His/her behaviour returns to normal: the active child calms down or the introverted child expresses him/herself more easily. S/he also listens more and becomes more positive about his/her activities.

THE SECOND PART

Its aim is to enable the child or adult to use his/her wish to listen, which has been developed in the first part. The adult is asked to read aloud or to repeat words or phrases in a microphone when it concerns an integration of a new language. The child is ... asked to repeat in a microphone spoken or sung components, such as nursery rhymes, words or sentences. The sound is monitored with the Electronic Ear. This enables the child or adult to control his/her voice. A balance system gradually allows the person to use his/her right ear effectively to consolidate the listening-speaking processes.  Listening tests are taken regularly to be able to note the progress made and to determine when the session ends. The pace of the sessions is to be determined on an individual basis.

CHECK-UPS

The check-ups are held with the adult person or the child and his/her parents. It is used to check the progress which has been made. It is the opportunity for the person to express his feelings.
The Tomatis specialist explains ...what happens and advises the parents how to create a happier environment at home and therefore help the child to develop his/her personality.

AFTER THE PROGRAM

When the person has consolidated his/her listening-speaking processes and can therefore speak and write effectively, s/he is asked to perform a number of reading aloud exercises to maintain and strengthen the progress made during the Tomatis program.
It is advised to have the child checked every six months to evaluate his/her listening development.

Some health insurances (‘complémentaire’) fully or partly pay the Tomatis program. In some cases a medical prescription is needed.