top of page
​中 | Eng

NEP Neuro Ear Programming

New Discoveries

For many years, I have been searching for ways to help those clients whose pain were too much to face or too guarded that one cannot be consciously in touch. Sometimes it will take a long time for the breakthrough of the therapy to happen. Then, I have found the Tomatis Program which helps people to make the necessary changes easier and slowly reduce the intensity of their pain. It also helps clients to focus, regain energy, lower anxiety and improve their ability to learn and communicate. In addition, many of the people I have worked with from a variety of circumstances, benefited immensely and have found the Tomatis program healing, transforming, and that it opens a pathway to new potentials.

​

In addition, I am excited to find the latest research of Stephen Porges that have incorporate Balance Board and Brain Gym to help people with vestibular and learning difficulties. 

ear1.JPG
ear2.png

Why do we offer NuEar Programming?

NEP is a combination of  Tomatis Listening Program and Tomatis Auditory  Analysis together with Brain Gym, Belgau’s Balance Board, and drawings.

Why Tomatis?

Dr. Alfred Tomatis is considered the father of all the sound programs available today. many other sound training programs claim to be "Tomatis based," only the original Tomatis® comes from the work of Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis (1920 - 2001). Dr. Tomatis, a French Ear, Nose and Throat physician, pioneered a multi-disciplinary science called Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP) over 50 years ago. His work resulted from his curiosity about the influence of the human ear on a healthy mind and body. Tomatis noted that language learning for a fetus begins in the womb with a mother's voice. He concluded that overall human health sources in the ear. He developed, researched and proved his theory: the voice only contains what the ear can hear. His theory was independently confirmed at the Sorbonne in 1957 and became known as the Tomatis Effect.

Tomatis_learning.webp
ear3.png
Neuroplasticity:   How is it possible to help brain conditions with sound?

By: Dr. Norman Doidge **

1. It is now completely beyond dispute, based on laboratory and clinical evidence, that the human

brain is neuroplastic, meaning that its circuits are dynamic, and changing in response to activity and mental experience.This discovery overturns years of belief that the brain’s circuitry is fixed or “hardwired” by the

end of infancy and early childhood. 

 

 

2. It was long ago established that brain neurons communicate in several ways.  Chemical signaling

by neurotransmitters is one of the brain’s many “languages,” and often works very locally, at microscopic levels. Another “language” is that of electrical signaling.  Our neurons produce patterns of electrical energy to communicate more globally, across vast expanses of the brain. 

​

​

3. Our sense receptors (such as the retina in the eye, the cochlea in the ear, or heat receptors in the skin) are “transducers”—an engineering term meaning that they convert one form of energy, and the patterns of information in that energy, into another form of energy patterns. For this reason, it is possible to deliver certain frequencies of sound energy to the cochlea (the ear’s sound receptor) and the vestibular apparatus (the balance system), which convert it to electrical patterns of energy in the brain. Change the frequencies of sound played into the ear and, over time, we can change the structure and function of the brain’s circuits. For instance, whenever we hear loud music, with a heavy bass beat, our neurons start firing at the same tempo as the music. This process, called “entrainment,” is only one of the ways music can modify the brain’s structure. This has all been demonstrated using various hi-tech methods of scanning the brain, such as those developed by researcher Nina Krauss, at Northwestern University. 

 

So, in summary, sound energy can be passed non-invasively into the ear, where it is converted to electrical patterns, that can change the structure of the plastic brain—provided one understands all the fine details of how to do this. 

NEP is an innovative program aims at providing multi-sensory stimulation: auditory, vestibular and movement in the form of special filter music, balance board and brain gym exercise.

emoiton.webp

1. The stimulation of brain in the form of sound energy:
 

Sound energy is presented  non-invasively into the ear, where it is converted to electrical patterns, that can change the structure of the plastic brain—due to the “neuroplasticity” nature of our brain.  Tomatis
programs are based on this principle, providing gentle and specific stimulation in order to activate the neural pathways used in the processing of sensory information. Auditory process is important
for reading speech and language.  Visual system is important for reading and orienting to sound. Vestibular in our inner ear system is responsible for  coordination, balance, muscle tone, regulation of
movement,  position and space. According to Dr. Minson, he suggested that  network of these three-systems stimulated at the same time (such as standing on the balance board, visual tracking and throwing bean bag while listening to music), can create a stronger network as neurons fire together wired together, and new connections are established through repeated sessions of multi-sensory input, thus may improve brain function connectivity.(Ron Minson, M.D.)

2. The stimulation of Vagus Nerve
 

Researchers are discovering that vagus nerve, has a significant impact on the symptoms of disorders like depression and anxiety. According to Tomatis (1983), he proposed that the auditory stimulation results in a better integration between the different sensorial systems and in a more harmonious balance between the para- and sympathetic nerve system. Evidence shows that stimulating the vagus nerve, a process called vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is effective in stress relief, improves patient's emotional well-being, and reduce depressive symptoms. A new study from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, has proven that a safer method of VNS is effective for alleviating the symptoms of depression. (Jiliang Fang & et.al, 2016). This method stimulates the vagus nerve via electrodes that sit in the ear like headphones. Tomatis auditory stimulation also aims at stimulating the Vague Nerve which controls emotion regulation, calming down the sympathetic nervous system—flight and fight or freeze. In addition, the influence of vestibular stimulation on emotions is mediated through its projections to limbic system, calming down amygdala.

​

For Dr. Porges, the best way is to reassure the brain that the environment is safe is to send signals of soothing safeness that bypass the conscious to reach the most inaccessible part of the brain such as middle ear muscles is through specially engineered music

emoitn4.webp
ear4.png
ear5.png
body1.png

 3. Balance improves attention and learning skills
 

Because the vestibular system plays such a key role in the foundations of

perception, balance problems can cause many, seemingly unrelated

problems in brain function. National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration also supported and funded the basic scientific research

questioning how the vestibular or balance sense operates and how 

balance influences brain processes. Research shows that working to improve coordination and balance skills in children can dramatically sharpen attention and learning skills in both children who have healthy vestibular systems and children who have challenges or weaknesses with their vestibular and proprioception(muscles and joints) (Wiener-Vacher & et. al, 2013). Studies based on Dr. Belgau's balance board, including throwing bean bag with careful tracking of eye showed to have effects on balance, dexterity and eye movement control as well as improve cognitive skills underlying literacy, to the reading process, and to standardized national literacy attainment tests.(Reynolds & Nicoloson, 2007).

body2.png

4. Stimulation through Movement improve learning

Research by neurokinetician, Jean Blaydes has shown a link between exercise and learning. She finds out that not only is memory retrieved easier when the information is learned through movement, but also enhanced as the physical activity increases a certain protein that strengthens memory retention (2001). When under stress, the hippocampus in the brain will not function properly and will weaken connections with other parts of the brain. (Caine,1990). For our body and brain to function, it is essential that the brain information has to flow freely, otherwise "learning blockages" can occur due to stress. (Cohen et. al., 2003) Researchers have found that as we experience different events, the stimulation, whether it is physical or not, helps to create neuron growth and that, "...the actual 'wiring' of the brain is affected by school and life experiences. Anything that affects our physiological functioning affects our capacity to learn" (Caine & Caine, 1990, p. 66). ​ Research has also shown that incorporating the body's senses helps in the acquisition of information. "Movement of the body also serves to integrate and anchor that information into the neural networks that are located throughout our bodies" (Hannaford,1996).  Dr. Dennison (1994) proposed that  Brain Gym was developed to help to integrate information into the neural networks so that people can learn even under stress.

body3.png
body4.png

Listening, Movement, and Balance

Auditory,Vestibular, and Kinaesthetic

​

The 3 systems are vital to our ability to learn, pay attention, process information, and coordinate movement. As these 3 systems are so interrelated, “exercising” them simultaneously is a holistic approach which requires the brain to become better at integrating multi-sensory information. We are essentially re-training the brain to become more efficient and effective, and in the process strengthening neural connections to improve performance (Ron Minson, MD).

​

​

NEP program (Tomatis, Brain Gym and Balance Board) can provide stimulation to be converted into electrical patterns, that can change the structure of the plastic brain which may improve our ability to function in the world.  Many areas of human function can improve through this non-invasive training program including reducing stress (Lundqvist, 2011), improving depression (Coetzee, 2001), anxiety (Du Plessis, 1988 ; Van Jaarsveld, 1988; Spaggiari, 1995), attention (Sacarin, 2013; ; Davis, 2005) ,  language impaired (Wilson et al, 1982; Spaggiari, 1995), Dyslexia (Mould,1985; Gillis, 1978), learning disabilities (Kershner et. al, 1986; Rourke et. al, 1982; Gilmore, 1990), learning ability (Ratyńska, Konarski, 2014).  , language difficulties (Gilmore, 82; Gilmor, 1984/2) , learning foreign language (De Jong & Kaunzner, 2000; Murase, 2004; Eurocopter, 1995), , various aspects of autism (Schiedeck, 2000; Neysmith-Roy, 2001; Spaggiari, 1995) ,  cognition  (Zhang, Chen, 2015) and memory (Zhang, Chen , 2017). after stroke and reduces stress of pregnancy (Michon, Salaun, 1990). Children, adolescents and adults with  Auditory Processing difficulties can also benefit from this program (Nicoloff, 2007;  Ross-Swain, 200).    

                         
Recent studies conducted by Steven Porges also confirmed that filtered music with movement improves state regulation problems and deficits in auditory (Porges ,2013)  and reduce auditory hypersensitivities (Porges ,2014)  for a group of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

Participants in the "Neural Ear Programming" (NEP) practice experience

​

Jerry students completed Level 1 - NEP sharing in July 2023 :

After listening to NEP:                 
1. I can now hear clearly and understand what the teacher says in class. 

2. My heart and neck and head feel a lot more relaxed, especially the chest feels very fresh and not as pressed as before. 

3. I can be more aware of my discomfort feelings, so that I can immediately stop and adjust myself , for example, when I feel my discomfort while doing my homework, I will stop immediately and adjust myself instead of forcing myself to finish it like before. 

4. I am more able to think in a positive direction, even if I encounter some negative unhappy experiences. 

5. I'm getting more sleep as my brain is telling me to rest, which is similar to the feeling I get when I'm listening to the NEP music. 

6. My fingers are more flexible than before. 

7. I feel that I don't worry as much as I used to, and I think less about things that upset me. 

8. I feel that my thinking has become more flexible, which can be reflected in the fact that I have become more humorous when communicating with people, and I can express my thoughts in a more interesting way.

References:
** Excerpt from the Foreword in Paul Madaule’s e-book “When Listening Comes Alive” by Dr. Norman Doidge, author of “The Brains Way of Healing” and “The Brain That Changes Itself “

Curious to read more of my work? Subscribe below and get all my articles sent directly to your inbox.

bottom of page