SOUND PICTURES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 308, 3 October 1929, Page 8

SOUND PICTURES.

MAY CURE DEAFNESS. Developments of great importance in the treatment of deafness are expected to result from a series of tests now being conducted by two wellknown specialists in conjunction with Fox-Movietone officials in California. The theory is that the ampli-vibra-tions from the sounk screen synchronised with the movements of players stir dormant nerve centres which cannot be stimulated any other way. The first of a series of tests was held on sth May at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Eos Angeles. The audience consisted entirely of persons hard of hearing who had been specially invited to see a performance of the Fox-Movietone picture, “ The Black Watch,” in which Victor McLaglen has the principal male role. At the start of the showing questionnaires were distributed by a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California. After studying the results of the questionnaire, further tests will be made. These are expected to produce definite proof of the value of talking pictures in aiding partially-deaf persons to regain their hearing. “ It is a fact,” says the professor, “ that various forms of mental depression can be relieved by attendance at motion picture theatres where Movietone synchronises with the action on the film. When the patient concentrates upon action and sound his mind is relieved of worries, and in many instances is brought back to a condition similar to that which existed prior to the mental breakdown. I find in Fox-Movietone perfect synchronisation and unusual vibrating qualities as sound emanates from loud speakers. This quality of sound and action will enable us to determine a new process for the treatment of persons of hard hearing. Our experiments already have disclosed singular responses in treatment of these cases when a series of all-talking pictures has been prescribed. This is due primarily to the fact that the powerful tone vibrations appear to stimulate heretofore dormant auditory nerves, and periodic repetition of this stimulatory process increases ability of the afflicted persons to hear customary sounds. In many cases we hope to restore almost normal hearing to those who have heretofore been unresponsive to other forms of treatment, in which case the all-talking pictures will certainly prove a blessing.”