Tomatis Program - Autism Phase 1

A Parent’s View – Experience of the TOMATIS PROGRAM – Stage 1 and 2

Reasons for doing the program:

To improve communication within the family
To be able to carry out daily routines without episodes (high pitched screaming, crying & tantrums that lasted between 5–40 mins)

Before Starting	After Stage 1
High pitched screams during night sleep	Calls out for mummy during night sleep
Woke in the morning grumpy, grunting, groaning, crying	Wakes asking for mummy Asks for breakfast ‘Bubbles’ – for rice bubbles Asks to watch TV ‘Thomas’ – for Thomas The Tank Engine
Would scream at anytime even when sitting quietly on his own High frustration levels	Can point and say ‘this’ when he wants something Can detect what maybe frustrating him and assist or divert him
Could not respond to basic questions Just blank looks like he couldn’t hear you	Responds to questions with eye and body movement, not necessarily with a word answer response
Would only allow certain people to touch him – would retract by groaning screaming throwing a tantrum when touched	Allows people to touch and talk to him Will join in play with other people hold hands smiles allows eye contact starting to initiate contact of own accord
Unable to control the screaming and tantrum episodes would be sent to his room for time out where eventually he would stop by going into himself sitting looking at a book or playing with a car	His crying is not as high pitch more emotional he will cry and call mummy I can use the word stop firmly several times while also using my hands to sign stop he will eventually calm down to where I can try and talk to him to find out what it is that is bothering him
A limited feeling of bonding and connection between mother and child	Building up a bond and a better sense of connection experiencing beautiful moments of loving eye contact between mother and child
Wanted to be constantly picked up & put down in social situations very unsettled or either totally quiet retreating to a separate room on his own	Still requires to be picked up at times I have developed an awareness with regard to his reasons why Due to unknown noise A crowd of people still unsettle him
Unable to gauge an unsafe situation Putting himself at risk of getting hurt no sense of fear	Still putting himself at risk -unable to assess an unsafe situation i.e. standing on a chair
Self assessment – improving mum’s communication	looking at how I can improve Talk slower – use less words – free him of my own anxiety’s

Started March 2004 The program has introduced us to our son! Educated us about our child’s world, how he perceives things and how it makes him feel. He is now coming into our world and joining in with us.

Tomatis Program – Autism Phase 1

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