A Tool to See if You or Your Child May Have a Listening Problem
We cannot
"see" listening. The only way to "get at it" is indirectly—through
skills that are related to it in one way or another. This checklist, developed
by Canadian Tomatis practitioner, Paul Madaule, offers a catalog of abilities,
skills or qualities that will enable you to assess whether you
or your child may have a listening problem. There is NO score. This is
simply a tool for you to evaluate your own or your child’s ability to
listen, and thus to learn. Check as many boxes, as you feel appropriate.
Developmental
History:
Our early years
This knowledge
about our younger years is extremely important in early identification
and prevention of listening problems. It also sheds light on possible
causes of listening problems.
A stressful
pregnancy
Difficult
birth
Adoption
Early separation
from the mother
Delay in motor development
Delay in language development
Recurring ear infections
Receptive
Listening:
Our external environment
This type
of listening is directed outward to the world around us. It keeps us attuned
to what’s going on at home,
at work, in the classroom or with friends.
Short attention
span
Distractibility
Over-sensitivity
to sounds
Misinterpretation
of questions
Confusion
of similar-sounding words
Frequent
need for repetition
Inability
to follow sequential instructions
Expressive
Listening:
Our internal atmosphere
This is the
kind of listening that is directed within us. We use it to listen to ourselves
and to gauge and control our voice when we speak and sing.
Flat and
monotonous voice
Hesitant
speech
Weak vocabulary
Poor sentence
structure
Overuse
of stereotyped expressions
Inability
to sing in tune
Confusion
or reversal of letters
Poor reading
comprehension
Poor reading
aloud
Poor spelling
Motor
Skills:
Our physical abilities
The ear of
the body (the vestibule), which controls balance, muscle and eye coordination
and body image needs close scrutiny also.
Poor posture
Fidgety
behavior
Clumsy,
uncoordinated movements
Poor sense
of rhythm
Messy handwriting
Hard time
with organization, structure
Confusion
of left and rights
Mixed dominance (of hands?)
Poor sports
skills
The
Level of Energy:
Our fuel system
The ear acts
like a dynamo (a powerful motor), providing us with the "brain"
energy we need to not only to survive but also to lead fulfilling lives.
Difficulty
getting up
Tiredness
at the end of the day
Habit of
procrastinating
Hyperactivity
Tendency
toward depression
Feeling
overburdened with everyday tasks
Behavioral
and Social Adjustment:
Our relationship skills
A listening
difficulty is often related to these qualities of interacting with others.
Once you have filled out this form,
you may print it out for later reference.
