Inner ear infections, poor language development, global development delay, leaning off to one side, hands on ears, dislike of background noise, visual stress.
Inner ear infections affect >80% children by aged 10 years (Source: NDCS). In addition, other health, physical and emotional events can influence a child’s ability to process sound information in their environment. This impacts learning and life chances.

60 minutes per day , 5 days per week
2-3 weeks (10 – 15 days in total)
A TalksUp® device (pictured) can support up to 5 children listening at the same time.
Target specific children who will do well. This creates the momentum needed to get everyone on board.
Once addressed, sound processing contributes to calm and more grounded learners. Sound matters!

Look for signs that an individual is compensating for sound processing.
These may be the individuals who are not achieving their potential despite working hard.
Compensating for disrupted sound processing is hard work and often leads to outbursts or a breakdown in communication.
A person’s developmental background, health, physical and emotional state link to sound processing at any age and stage of life.

A Tomatis® Listening Test is an option for screening individuals aged 6 years+.
The individual reacts to sounds presented through air and bone conduction, indicating Left or Right side, and sound sensitivity. They also speak out loud into a microphone as a test of laterality.
A listening test is particularly recommended if listening distortions or acute listening sensitivity is suspected.
Excessive flatness of listening curves (see picture) in both ears often presents as fatigue, lack of memory and concentration difficulties.
Careful analysis of an individual’s listening profile can help pinpoint ‘blocks’ to learning, working memory and self-regulation.
A listening test can offer detailed information and reassurance about an individual's sound processing.
Teachers can use this valuable information to target the help and support offered in school and home.

One exercise per half term.
- Stagger across classes.
- TA or other adult to support (class-to-class).
- Consider exercise as part of mindfulness, body awareness, whole body promotion.
- Get children to pair up (mirror neurons).
Keep very slow and precise.
Track individuals’ ability to perform the movement and CELEBRATE SUCCESS!
Involve the whole school community. e.g. get parents (and grandparents – multi-generations) involved!
Source: Fit2Learn CIC
To boost cognitive function by:
(1) improving posture, balance and control, (2) integrating primitive reflexes and (3) refining vision and sound processing.
Once integration is achieved it is much easier to develop higher cognitive skills.

Challenges presented may include:
Child 1 (8 year old)
- handwriting, spelling and composition
- maths concepts, especially involving quick recall
- balance and coordination
- emotional regulation (anxiety, nightmares)
Child 2 (6 year old)
- signs of SPD – sensory processing
- difficulty following routines
- not aware of surroundings
- frightened by loud noises
Tomatis® sound and listening therapy agitates the inner ear (vestibular system), which helps an individual feel more grounded and emotionally secure.
An individual has more conscious physical control of their body.
This may reveal itself as improved gross and fine motor skills: drawing, handwriting, sports performance, musical ability, mathematical concepts, and more!