Using the Tomatis Method of Sound Stimulation

Better Listening for Better….

Communication * Learning * Reading * Auditory Processing * Motivation * Well-Being * Social Skills * Second Language Acquisition * Writing * Creativity * Musical Ability * Self Esteem * Attention * Voice Quality * Memory

Our Services

The Listening Centre opened in Toronto in 1978 and it is the first facility to provide the Tomatis Method in North America. Nearly 5,000 children, adolescents and adults have benefited from listening training programs at the Centre. The Listening Centre was also instrumental in the development of the Tomatis Method on the American Continent.

The Centre receives people of all ages with problems ranging from difficulty in carrying a tune, or learning a foreign language, to people with learning disabilities (dyslexia), attention deficit disorder (ADD), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), autism, cerebral palsy, down's syndrome and other neurological or genetically based developmental delays or handicaps. More than 60% of the people we help at The Listening Centre have a past history of ear infections.

An Initial Assessment with a consultant at the Centre determines if the person is a candidate for the listening training program. The changes and improvements to be expected and the approximate length of the program required to reach those goals are also evaluated during this first interview. Most programs consist of two intensive phases of about 30 hours each, (2 hours/day for 15 days) with a 4 to 6 week break in between. Short "boosts" may be recommended as a follow up.

Each trainee receives through headphones an individually tailored program of sound (music and voice) modified by different types of filtering which reproduces the different stages in the development of listening. The "passive phase" of the program works primarily on receptive listening, and the “active phase” on expressive listening, in other words, on the auditory control of one’s own voice. The trainee is asked to hum, sing, speak or read into a microphone and the voice is fed into his/her ears after it has been electronically modified. For children who are unable to participate in voice exercises, a microphone is placed in the room so that it picks up and emphasizes the sounds or babbling that they make. The consultant monitors the program and provides guidance to the client (and his/her parents when children are involved) during and after the course of the listening program.

Our staff

Paul Madaule, founder and Director studied psychology at the Sorbonne in Paris, graduating in 1972. He then went on to work closely with Dr. Tomatis. Prior to that, as a teenager, Paul had met Dr. Tomatis who helped him to overcome problems related to dyslexia. Paul is the author of a book titled “When Listening Comes Alive” which is available through the internet or through The Listening Centre.

Sophie Garceau, past Co-Director, is in charge of the Montreal branch of The Listening Centre since 2001.  She joined the Centre in 1994 after a few years of work as an educator and Sign Language Interpreter for the deaf and as a Special Education teacher for high-school "at-risk" students.

Morana Petrofski, Assistant Director, has been with the Centre since 1995. Morana holds an E.C.E. diploma from Zagreb, Croatia and has graduated with B.A. in Psychology from York University.

When you call the Centre you will most likely reach Darlah Durnford, Coordinator, who joined the Centre team in September 1997. In her work as a Listening Therapist at the Centre, Darlah has also provided listening training through several outreach programs.

Listening Therapists, Edna Druxerman, Luana Camplone, Gail Thornton, Christine Hein and Darren Moore support clients during their day-to-day listening sessions at the Centre.

A Recent development: Home programs with the LiFT®

In the last years, The Listening Centre has developed the LiFT® (Listening Fitness Trainer), a portable battery-operated audio device which allows some clients to do part of the program at home. This is especially useful in case of long-term programs, which require several “boosts” after the initial two sessions. Home programs are also available for voice professionals (singers and actors in particular) as well as musicians who want to develop and enrich their listening potential. Please contact us if you wish to learn more about programs with the LiFT®.

For more information on the LiFT®, visit www.listeningfitness.com.

Our outreach programs

When there is a strong interest in a community away from Toronto, The Listening Centre can organize an outreach program. The number of people necessary to make an outreach possible depends on several factors, the distance in particular. It usually varies between 12 and 15. Our goal is to offer the same quality of service for the same price as in the Centre. The Listening Centre outreaches are available only in Canada.

Cassettes and CDs

For more information and ordering please visit our website at www.listeningcentre.com

Information and Open House

Staff members of The Listening Centre are available to give presentations to schools and community organizations. The Listening Centre also runs a monthly open house at the centre.

Ear-Voice Connection Workshop

More recently, we have been offering a 2-day workshop on the ear-voice connection, an important aspect of the Tomatis Method which can be transmitted without the need for special equipment.

The ear-voice connection can be adapted to groups of practitioners (Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, etc.) to teachers and educators as well as for singers and voice professionals.

For more information on the ear-voice connection workshop, contact Sophie Garceau at [email protected].