The five-year-old boy who
couldn't stand to be in a group of children now sits for story time
next to his new friend. The twelve-year old girl who couldn't remember
what was covered in class the day before now gets As on her biology
tests. The four-year-old boy who had never spoken looks into his
mother's eyes for the first time and says, "Mommy."
The adult overwhelmed by
her busy job, is now able to prioritize, multi-task, and meet
deadlines.
Through a combination of auditory stimulation and sensory motor
activities, the Spectrum Communication Center helps individuals open up
channels of communication. We can help children and adults with:
Sensory Integration
Disorder
PDD and Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD
Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia
Speech and Language Delays
Asperger's Syndrome
Alzheimer's Early stages
Selective Mutism
Executive Function Disorder
What are the Benefits?
Documented improvement has been seen in a variety of areas
including:
Attention span and concentration
Auditory discrimination and comprehension
Organization and learning skills
Speech articulation
Reading and writing
Posture and balance awareness
This program may not be for every child or adult. We conduct an initial
assessment to qualify potential clients.
Who are our Clients?
The clients that we work with at the Spectrum Tomatis Center
struggle with three main areas of development: Auditory processing
(issues of attention, concentration, and communication), Praxis (issues
of originating, organizing, and executing of sequenced skills that
range from fine motor and gross motor skills to organizing and
expressing our thoughts), Sensory processing (issues of tuning into
sensory information from the environment either by not being too
overwhelmed or not being to under-sensitive).
These abilities underlie
optimal learning and performance and they all are directly linked to
the functioning of the ear. This is why the Spectrum Communication
Center employs the Tomatis Method of auditory stimulation in
combination with sensory-motor activities in its approach of
reeducating the ear.
Why an Initial Assessment?
Prior to any treatment, an assessment takes place in a warm, caring
environment. The assessment is designed to evaluate all the areas
of listening as described by Dr. Tomatis including; sensory processing,
posture and coordination, praxis and motor planning, auditory and
visual processing, and audio-vocal abilities. Our evaluation is
designed considering the entire life span and for both testable and
untestable individuals.
The initial assessment experience was
incredible,
Alex recalls.
Although Jacob typically avoids stranger
and new situations, the staff made him immediately comfortable.
Valerie Dejean, director of the Spectrum Communication Center,
discussed the findings of her evaluation and helped clarify Jacob's
issues for the Freer-Balko family.
It was agreed that Jacob was a
perfect candidate for the Spectrum Communication Center program and
they would start immediately.
How Does the Program Work?
The development of communication follows a predictable sequence of
steps, which is universal to all. Tomatis understood these
process and developed a method (delivered through patented technology)
designed to re-educates the ear in how it listens and responds to the
world. When we are able to listen correctly we can go on to learn
through the normal channels as everyone else does.
The Tomatis Listening program is
delivered in a standard program of listening for 62 hours over 31 day
done in a 3-month time span. In order to change established pattern,
the re-education of the ear needs to be delivered intensely for a
sustained amount of time. The client listens for two-hours a day, over
a 12-15 consecutive days period. Now a new habit of listening has been
established. We now have a 4-6 week break to allow the client to
use his "new ear" before we induce new changes. Two more 8-10 day
intensives are done over the next two months specific to the
individuals pace. At these points the next development stages of
listening are introduced. This is the standard program for a
determined listening disorder. Programs of different duration may
be recommended depending on the clients presentation and specific
needs.
How Do I Know If This Is The Right Program?
The Spectrum Communication Center has worked with individuals with
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Sensory
Integration Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Auditory
Processing Disorder, Language Development Disorders, Dyspraxia,
Executive Functioning Disorder, and Genetic Developmental Disorders
including Down's Syndrome, and Fragile X.
Our listening programs have helped individual with performance
difficulties:
Behavior problems
Social and Communication difficulties
Academic difficulties such as difficulties learning to read, write,
spell, grasping mathematical concepts
Job performance difficulties such as organizing, planning, memorizing,
and presenting.
Individual with these difficulties often fall through the cracks
because something is not clicking for them even though nothing is
blatantly wrong.
If you or your child fit any of these
descriptions, or are experiencing inexplicable difficulties in school,
work, or social settings, consider scheduling an initial assessment
with us. Our evaluation, combined with detailed information from
you, can help identify any underlying listening disorder and determine
if we can help you.
Who is on the Spectrum Communication
Center Staff?
Our staff includes
Certified Tomatis consultants
Listening Therapists.
Consultants may have professional
backgrounds in related fields such as occupational therapy, speech
therapy, audiology, psychology, and education. They then go
through further intensive training in the Tomatis Method and function
as Certified Tomatis Consultants in our facility.
Our listening therapists have backgrounds
in psychology, early childhood development, recreation therapy, and
special education. They have extensive training in sensory
integration theory and techniques, as well as in the implementation of
individualized programs, and technical management of the Tomatis,
system, theory and methodology.
Where are you Located?
We are located in Tuxedo Park, New York, located 35 miles northwest of
New York City. The founding office in Bethesda Maryland opened in
1992 and the New York office opened in 2002. We have outreach
programs at other cities in the United Stated where we provide the
Tomatis Method and the Spectrum Center Method.
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