Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1117 Issue Date: 28 Apr, 2024

Hilary Peart gave a very informative presentation on sound therapy and the difference it has made in her life.

French ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr Alfred Tomatis, established a link between the sounds we hear and our functioning in speech, learning, energy and stress. He developed a way to treat the ear with sound - using specially filtered classical music, he was able to not only improve ear function, but also beneficially recharge the cortex of the brain.

Today we are bombarded by low frequency machine noise from traffic, air conditioners, computers and other appliances. The response of the ear, brain and nervous system is to "shut down" in varying degrees to this onslaught. This means we also shut out the nurturing high frequency sounds.

Sound therapy tapes are recorded with enhanced high frequencies and a special pattern of high and low tones to re-open the listening pathway and balance the nervous system. As this gentle exercise rehabilitates the ear, many hearing disorders are rectified.

Hilary came across sound therapy in her search for something to help manage her epilepsy. She and her husband had spent thousands of dollars trying to find something that would help her as her epileptic seizures had a huge impact on her quality of life and prevented her enjoying everyday things we all take for granted.

A very determined woman, Hilary did her best to continue to participate in as many activities as possible (at the risk of bringing on a seizure) and after commencing the sound therapy, found over time that she was able to resume a normal life.

Users of sound therapy have reported many benefits from the use of the therapy including improved hearing, reduction or alleviation of tinnitus and Meniere's Syndrome, deeper, refreshing sleep, improved memory and concentration (could help some of us over 50's), enhanced learning abilities and help for ADD and ADHD.

Another benefit experienced by Hilary was that although she used to have constant headaches and pressure in her head - she doesn't have them any more. She didn't know if the headaches were related to epilepsy - and whether when the seizures reduced and stopped they also faded away. However, her husband also suffered from frequent migraines - and he no longer gets them. Neither of them started using the music program for headaches. It is something they just realised as an additional benefit after a period of time.