How can something that seems so simple—listening to psychoacoustically modified classical music—actually impact a wide range of abilities, such as reading, communication, learning, and memory?

Numerous studies worldwide, including research at the University of Sheffield, provide empirical evidence that substantiate The Listening Program’s efficacy. And while that affirms The Listening Program’s credibility, for many the question remains, how does TLP work?

The Ear-Brain Connection
First, let’s examine the connection between the ear and the brain. In oversimplified terms, the ear has three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. Sound travels as “vibratory energy” through these three parts as information relays to the brain.

To break it down further, sound is received by the external portion of the ear and passes through the auditory canal to the eardrum. The eardrum then vibrates, passing the vibration though the middle ear bones to the inner ear. The inner ear then converts the vibratory energy into electrochemical messages that are carried along the auditory pathways to the brain. Once there, the brain perceives and interprets the messages.

Auditory Processing Skills
This process of perceiving sound is complex. In fact, it requires a number of skills that comprise auditory processing:

• Amplitude Perception - To perceive the loudness or intensity of sounds. This is measured in decibels (abbreviated “dB”).
• Frequency Perception - To perform a frequency analysis; for example, the ability to split sounds into various frequency bands. Frequency is measured in Hertz (abbreviated “Hz”).
• Auditory Attention - To attend, focus, or listen to sound.
• Sound Localization - To identify the source of a sound in your environment.
• Auditory Discrimination - To distinguish between sounds or words that are similar or different in the way they sound.
• Auditory Closure - To fill in the missing pieces of sounds or words.
• Auditory Anticipation - To expect what sound is coming next.
• Auditory Temporal Processing - To analyze the timing and pattern of sounds.
• Auditory Memory - To sequence sounds, words, or other meaningful combinations. To receive, store, process, and recall auditory information.
• Auditory Cohesion - To understand the meaning, abstraction, and intention of verbal communication and music.
• Auditory Figure Ground - To perceive speech or other sound when other competing sounds are present.
• Auditory Scene Analysis - To separate sounds when a large mixture of sounds is present.

What if Auditory Processing is Impaired?
Imagine a distortion anywhere along the auditory pathway. Maybe it’s the effect of childhood ear infections, or the long-term impact of toxic noise*. Or perhaps there are problems in how the brain perceives sound once it is received. Whatever the cause, this disruption “disorganizes” the information, which diminishes the brain’s ability to make sense of the input and respond appropriately. The result? Auditory processing problems can lead to academic, social and emotional challenges.

Are auditory processing problems permanent? With sufficient intervention, no. Neuroscience is proving that brain function can change, thanks to “brain plasticity.” Research by leaders in this field indicates that plasticity refers to our brain’s natural ability to adapt and change its structure in response to sensory experiences. In other words, with specific stimulation through our senses (hearing, vision, touch, smell, taste), the brain can establish new neural pathways.

However, the brain does not typically respond with significant, permanent change through casual exposure to sensory information. In order to “mold” the brain, it must be presented with specific sensory stimulation frequently, with intensity, and for a sufficient period of time. A definitive effort must be made to convince the brain that the intention is to create a change.

This plasticity stays with us our entire lives. While it is never too late, the younger we begin stimulating the brain, the better.

Improving Auditory Processing Through Music
So the question becomes…how can we overcome auditory processing challenges—moving from a “disorganized” to an “organized” system? Certain classical music, like that of Mozart, Haydn and Vivaldi, is highly structured, producing sound waves in organized patterns. When listening to music, the ear is receiving the musical sound waves—waves that arrive in different frequencies, measured in Hertz (Hz). These frequencies stimulate the brain, and thus affect different functions of the mind and body.

The Listening Program’s psychoacoustically modified music and patent-pending production treatments are designed to stimulate, or “exercise,” the different functions of the auditory processing system. This can enable the brain to better perceive a fuller range of frequencies, organize the information, and respond appropriately.

Extending the Power of Music through Psychoacoustic Treatments
Countless psychoacoustic processes are used in the production of TLP—techniques that enhance and strengthen the attributes inherent within the musical structure to effect change for specific auditory processing skills, as demonstrated in the following examples.

• Auditory Figure Ground – To “exercise” this skill, which is the ability to perceive speech or other sound when other competing sounds are present, TLP alternates the volume of different instrumental voices. To illustrate, in a particular section of music, the volume may be subtly raised on the oboe, and then the volume reduces on the oboe while it’s raised on the violin. By switching the listener’s attention in and out of the different instrumental voices and between background and foreground sound, TLP is training the auditory processing system to better “tune in” and “tune out.”


• Sound Localization – Sound localization refers to the ability to identify the source of a sound in the environment, and one of the ways TLP enhances this skill is through “spatial dynamics.” By “moving the position” of different instruments during post-production, it sounds to the listener as if instruments are moving forward, backward, or side-to-side during a particular segment of music. This experience actively engages the listener, requiring the brain to perceive the position of the sound in time and space.

Specific Frequencies for Specific Functions
The Listening Program combines decades of clinical research in several fields, including neurology, physiology, psychoacoustics**, auditory processing, music theory, and more. The method builds on the work of respected leaders in these fields, such as ear, nose, and throat physician Alfred A. Tomatis, MD (1920-2001). For example, Dr. Tomatis helped identify the relationship between certain frequencies and their effect on functions of the mind and body.

The audible range for the human ear is between 20 Hz (low frequencies) and 20,000 Hz (high frequencies). A simplified explanation of Dr. Tomatis’ findings shows that he identified certain bands, or zones, of frequencies that affect different abilities:

TLP is designed to address these zones, systematically providing auditory stimulation that, when customized for listeners by TLP Providers, can help improve listeners’ ability to function, maximizing their potential in a number of ways.

TLP treatment categories are as follows:

• Full Spectrum—Full Spectrum provides a kind of overall “organizing” experience.


• Sensory Integration—Sensory Integration targets the first zone (lower frequencies) to stimulate such functions as balance, coordination, motor skills and more.


• Speech & Language—Speech & Language emphasizes the mid to higher frequencies to stimulate the brain’s abilities for memory, attention, vocal control and more.


• High Spectrum—High Spectrum focuses on the higher frequencies that impact creativity, intuition, energy and more.

With a personal sense of purpose, the TLP team has brought together science, world-class music, and state-of-the-art technology so The Listening Program can make a difference in the lives of countless people worldwide.   Previous..   Next..

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*Toxic noise – unsafe environmental noises that, over time, can cause noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Examples of common toxic noise include HVAC systems, hair dryers, power lawn mowers, stadium football games, airplane cabins and more.   back to topic

**Psychoacoustics – the psychological study of hearing. Psychoacoustic research helps develop many commonly known inventions such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, mp3 technology, and more.    back to topic