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DAVIS ADDENDUM
TO THE "TOMATIS EFFECT"
Dorinne S. Davis-Kalugin,
MA, CCC-A, FAAA, RCTC,
BARA
Davis Centers, Inc, Budd Lake, NJ, USA
davis@thedaviscenter.com
The Tomatis Method is based on the principles established by Dr. Alfred
Tomatis. The relationship of the ear and voice is defined in his three
laws, the "Tomatis Effect". Recent research with BioAcoustics, a new
science, has given rise to 2 new laws that can be applied to the ear/voice
connection. Through BioAcoustics, a time domain frequency analysis of
the voice becomes a predictive, diagnostic, and preventive tool for wellness.
The spontaneous otoacoustic emissions from the ear were evaluated and
compared with a frequency analysis obtained through voice analysis. One
hundred percent correlation between the stressed frequencies of the ear
and voice was noted. From this research, an addendum of 2 new laws to
the "Tomatis Effect" was suggested.
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Alfred Tomatis discovered the "Tomatis Effect",
a set of 3 laws that identified a 'voice-ear-brain' connection. Specifically,
these laws state:
Law 1: The voice only contains the harmonics that the ear can hear.
Law 2: If you give the possibility to the ear to correctly hear the
distorted frequencies of sound that are not well heard, these
are immediately and unconsciously restored into the voice.
Law 3: The imposed audition sufficiently maintained over time
results in permanently modifying the audition and phonation.
These laws were validated in 1957 at the French Academy of Sciences. The laws
are the foundation for the Tomatis® Method, a method of sound presentation
that impacts many developmental, emotional, and wellness issues.
This paper discusses relatively new information about sounds that the ear emits,
called otoacoustic emissions, and, based on a comparative research project, propose
the addition of two new laws to the Tomatis Effect. This connection was identified
with the science of BioAcoustics™, a science created by Ms. Sharry Edwards,
MA, that analyzes the distorted frequency patterns emitted by the voice and identifies
specific wellness issues within each voice print.
Review of the Tomatis® Method
Dr. Tomatis used filtered and gated sounds to allow the ear to process sound
differently.
The focus of the method is on the effects of high frequencies and their impact
on the brain and body. Changes are evidenced in the overall functioning of the
listener.
Otoacoustic Emissions
In 1978, Dr. David Kemp reported that the ear also emits sound called Otoacoustic
Emissions (OAE’s). The OAE's are sounds generated by the energy of the
outer cochlear hair cells and can be detected when a microphone is placed within
the external auditory canal. OAE’s offer information about auditory functioning
that would not be available from other sources.
There are three main types of OAE’s: Distortion Product, Transient, and
Spontaneous.(Hall, and Mueller, 1997) The Distortion Product and Transient forms
have clinical applications for audiologists and physicians.
The third type, called Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emissions (SOAE), is the most
relevant to the two new laws and BioAcoustics. The SOAE is recorded in the external
ear canal and measures the sound output, or emissions of the ear. Very little
research has been done with SOAE’s because little is known as to what to
do with the information.
BioAcoustics™
Shortly before Dr. Kemp’s publication on his cochlear reflection hypothesis,
Ms. Sharry Edwards was discovering that the 'sounds she was hearing' were Spontaneous
Otoacoustic Emissions coming from the people around her. Her unique hearing abilities
allowed her to hear the sounds that only carefully placed microphones and special
recording instruments were able to detect. These “life sounds” represent
the basis for what has become the science devoted to the study of the frequencies
emanating from all living systems.
Ms. Edwards developed the field of BioAcoustics™. She found a way to capture
the energy (frequency) patterns of people through a time domain frequency generated
voiceprint. This voiceprint becomes a unique representation of the person at
the time it is generated.
Therapy Connections
Certain connections in the basic concepts of both methods were identified. The
Tomatis® Method utilizes high frequency sound, bone conduction stimulation,
and voice stabilization for success. BioAcoustics™ uses the voice to identify
stressed issues and entrains the brain through low frequency analog sound to
make a change. The Tomatis® Method cortically re-energizes the brain and
uses the voice to support change; and BioAcoustics™ uses the voice to identify
the issues and then entrains the brain to make change. The two methods support
each other in a continuous cycle.
Research Study
A research study explored the connection between the voice-ear-brain. With
the knowledge that the voice produces what the ear hears (looking at vocal
output
and reception of sound at the ear, or Tomatis®) and, that the ear emits a
sound (looking at vocal output and emission of sound at the ear, or BioAcoustics™),
one could hypothesize that the connection between the ear and the voice would
be the same whether it is in the reception or expression of sound.
Criteria for Exploratory Study
The following criteria was established for comparing voiceprint frequencies
to SOAE’s:
1. The Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emission must be measured on the same visit
as the voiceprint and occur prior to the voiceprint.
2. Subjects will participate one time.
3. All study subjects must be 18 or older.
4. Equipment used will be the Madsen Capella 0301 with the Madsen eartips from
box 8-66-950.
5. Three forms of OAE’s will be tested.
6. Only SOAE’s will be compared to the voiceprints.
7. SOAE frequencies will be divided into 2 categories: a) those under 1000
Hz, and b) those over 1000 Hz up to 10,000 Hz.
8. Left and right ears will be recorded separately.
9. All frequencies that are recorded as automatic SOAE’s will be used.
10. All frequencies with noticeable peaks will be noted.
11. The first low “stringer” will be recorded.
12. The first high “riser” or peak will be recorded.
13. The Audiologist will record the SOAE’s as frequencies, specifically
noting the BWM’s (Brain Wave Multiples: “A term used to describe
cycles per second of frequency that fall between .05 and 30 cycles per second,
the range identified as brain waves.” {Edwards, 1997}).
14. A BioAcoustician ( certified by Sound Health Alternatives International,
Inc.) will take the subject’s voice print (for spectral analysis) identifying
and recording BWM’s using standardized BioAcoustics equipment and programs,
as established by Sound Health, Inc.
15. Corresponding VP BWM’s will be included with differences up to .05.
Study Results
The study ran from 11/13/99 through 2/26/03 and included 50 adult subjects
randomly selected from parents and clientele at the Davis Center. Data was
obtained and recorded noting corresponding SOAE and voiceprint (VP) BWM's (Brain
Wave Multiple) and entered into their appropriate number of "hits" categories
of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5+. Results demonstrated that every subject (100%) demonstrated
at least one corresponding SOAE and VP BWM. 76% had 5+ corresponding frequencies.
12% had 4 corresponding frequencies. 6% had 3 corresponding frequencies. 4%
had 2 corresponding frequencies. 2% had 1 corresponding frequency. 88% had
4+ corresponding. (Insert Figure 1 and Figure 2)
Although this data is drawn from two different sources (SOAE's, and VP's),
each was broken down into comparable Brain Wave Multiple (BWM) frequencies.
Approximately 30 SOAE stressed frequencies out of 10,000 frequencies were identified
for each subject. With the BioAcoustics’ VP, 24 stressed frequencies
out of 100,000 were identified for each subject. These numbers were converted
into Brain Wave Multiples (as defined in BioAcoustics standards) and compared.
The Brain Wave Multiples of the 30 frequencies from the SOAE's and the Brain
Wave Multiples of the 24 frequencies from the BioAcoustics voiceprint were
compared. The number of "hits" represented the matching Brain Wave
Multiples.
Conclusion
One hundred percent (100%) of all subjects tested demonstrated at least one
matching SOAE with a VP BWM. The results allowed one to hypothesize that “The
voice produces what the ear hears (Dr. Tomatis) and the ear emits the same
stressed frequencies that are emitted by the voice. (Davis, 2002)”
Davis Addendum to the Tomatis Effect
With one hundred percent (100%) correlation, two new laws are suggested as
an addition to Dr. Tomatis' laws.
New Law 1: The ear emits the same stressed frequencies that are
emitted by the voice.
New Law 2: When complementary or supplementary frequencies of
stressed frequencies are introduced via sound vibration to
the ear, vocal patterns regain coherence.
These new laws lend further support to the voice-ear-brain connection, and encourage
further research in this interpretation. They also enhance the connection between
the Tomatis® Method and BioAcoustics™, further clarifying the cyclical
pattern of how the body uses receptive and expressive sound.
References
Davis, Dorinne.
(2000). Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between BioAcoustic voiceprint
Frequencies and Otoacoustic Emissions, BioAcoustics Annual Conference
Report.
Davis, Dorinne. (2004). Sound Bodies through Sound Therapy, Kalco Publishing,
LLC: Landing, NJ
Davis, Dorinne, and Edwards, Sharry. (April 2002). BioAcoustic Voiceprint Frequencies and Otoacoustic Emissions, American Academy of Audiology Annual Convention.
Edwards, S.(1997). BioAcoustics & Sound Therapy, Creating Sound
Environments, 1-12.
Hall, James W. III. (2000). Handbook of Otoacoustic Emissions, Singular
Publishing Group: San Diego CA.
Tomatis, Alfred. (1996). The Ear and Language, Moulin Publishing: Ontario,
Canada.
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