EFFECTS OF THE TOMATIS® METHOD ON PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS Hilde Tinkl, Barbara Thima, Nafeesah Mayet Tomatis® Institut Thima, Serravagasse 6, 1140 Vienna. Correspondence Author: Barbara Thima, E-mail: barbara.thima@tomatis.at
Objective The effect of the Tomatis® Method on physically and mentally impaired adults was studied.
Method 24 adults were selected from a rehabilitation center and a protected workshop of the Lebenshilfe in Austria. They were then assigned randomly to two groups; an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received the Tomatis® Training over a period of 40 weeks, consisting of 4 blocks with 40 minutes a day over the course of 10 days per block (40 minutes x10 days x4 blocks). A questionnaire (Disability Rating Scale) and a Biofeedback Measurement Instrument was employed as a pre- and post-test, before, during and after the Tomatis® Training.
Results The Biofeedback Measurements show significant differences in heart rate variability (HRV), muscle tension, respiration (RESP) and skin temperature between the experimental group and the control group. In addition, statistical analysis displayed a significant difference between the scoring of the two groups.