As of February 2025, it is estimated that between 7-10% of Americans struggle with dyslexia, a condition that describes various presentations revolving around difficulty comprehending written text; by the numbers, is the most common learning difficulty prevalent in children and adults today, with up to an estimated 20% of the population experiencing similar or related symptoms. More precise definitions continue to evolve along with ongoing research, but several key elements continue to broadly define what constitutes dyslexia, especially in a learning context: difficulty with visually tracking and organizing written text as well as associating written symbols with sounds; these in turn lead to further effects such as issues with processing visual information, comprehending and producing written language and struggles with verbal communication, attention and information retention. In other words, it is an issue of communication within the brain itself among the various structures that govern written and spoken language. And it is on this basis that we can begin to see how Dr. Tomatis’s method of sound training can be of help for those hoping to reach the full potential of their intellect.

Reading Is Speaking: Optimizing Communication

The most common and visible form of dyslexia, particularly in children, is developmental dyslexia. While often comorbid with other learning difficulties, such as delayed language acquisition and speech difficulties in early childhood, a diagnosis of developmental dyslexia typically surfaces when a child is struggling with learning to read and write.

While dyslexia is often colloquially understood as something like “reading backwards,” two main things define the condition: impaired phonological awareness (for example, finding it difficult to “sound out” a given word) and phonemic awareness, or difficulty identifying and isolating the sounds that comprise their language. While we typically understand dyslexia in terms of reading and writing, the above facts demonstrate how dyslexia is, on a neurological level, closely related to auditory processing. This neurological framework of auditory processing helps to explain how Dr. Tomatis’s listening-based approach can be useful in training the brain to overcome these difficulties.

Music: The Universe of Language

Research has shown that the brain perceives speech and spoken information – indeed, most if not all sounds it perceives – in a similar manner to music. As Dr. Sacarin is fond of pointing out, language is about comprehending two distinct elements of speech: the content and the “melody”. The ability to quickly synthesize the complete message from the blend of these two components is at the core of successful language comprehension and communication. That is to say, the meaning of speech is contained within the “rhythm” (syllables) and variations in pitch. To put it simply, speech/language and music are processed through many of the same structures in the brain, which suggests – and has been demonstrated by researchers using Dr. Tomatis’s Method – that comprehension skills for both can be trained in tandem.

Better Living Through Listening – Advanced Applications of Dr. Tomatis’ Method

The method developed by Tomatis works on this principle. Dr. Sacarin can evaluate which neural networks appear to be functioning suboptimally through either the use of quantitative EEG (qEEG) and/or standardized testing, and then by application of the method design an individually tailored program to stimulate those networks using processed audio – or as the person undergoing training perceives it, simply listening to particles of sound within the music. Dr. Sacarin’s in-depth testing and individualized programs lead to measurable and enduring results with the shortest possible intervention duration.

Dyslexia is far from the only problem that can arise from suboptimal auditory processing. But as the numbers above show it is a strikingly prevalent one, and given that it can have such early and profound effects on a child’s learning and development, it is certainly one of the most common uses of Dr. Tomatis’s approach. To learn more about Dr. Sacarin and how she can help your child who may have been diagnosed with dyslexia or other related conditions, please visit Dyslexia Treatment – Liliana Sacarin – Seattle, Washington.