Music therapy is a motivating and refreshing way to special needs children make much needed progress. Here’s a bit on the outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks of music therapy.

Common Outcomes of Music Therapy

Music reaches SO many different areas of functioning and development for special needs children. When working with children with Autism, Down syndrome, learning delays, etc, a music therapist is trained to use music to help them work through a variety of challenges and build on their strengths. Some of these may include:

Social/Emotional

• Improved self esteem
• Improved coping skills and behaviors
• Improved ability to relate to others
• Decreased social anxiety
• Increased social awareness

Communication

• Improved communication, speech and language skills
• Increased use of nonverbal communication, including sign language, picture communication, and gestures
• Improved fluency through singing

Physical

• Improved motor coordination
• Increased muscle strength
• Improved control over motor responses

Cognitive

• Improved attention span
• Improved memory
• Increased academic understanding
• Increased ability to make decisions

Each child will respond differently based on their unique needs, challenges, and abilities. Actual outcomes will be directly linked to time spent in music therapy, consistency and follow through between sessions, and frequency of sessions.

Benefits of Music Therapy

The goals and outcomes listed above are not unique to music therapy, as of course there are many types of therapies which address and work toward those outcomes for special needs children.

So why use music therapy? Here are the benefits that set music therapy apart:

• Music is highly motivating. Music speaks to children, and they are drawn to create. It therefore becomes a very effective form of therapy because you already have buy-in from the child.
• Music promotes growth in many areas simultaneously. Because music accesses so many areas of the brain, when you work on one goal the child will also benefit and strengthen other areas as well
• Music is easily adaptable to each child. Music is as diverse and dynamic as the children we see, so therapy is easily customizable to each child based on needs, culture, and preference.
• Music Therapy is interactive. In music therapy, the child is an active participant in creating music and therefore drives their own therapy forward. Making music with the therapist, whether it be through singing, instrument play, or movement, is a key component of therapy.
• Music is easily generalized to other settings. The benefits of music are not just limited to the therapy session. Rather, we will teach parents specific songs, techniques, and instruments to use to support their child’s development, such as during transitions, with daily routines, or in developing social skills and managing behaviors. We do that in 1:1 conversations with parents, as well as through video recordings of songs and a whole library of video demonstrations called “Harmony Helps”, which is specially designed to help special needs children access music at home.

Drawbacks for Music Therapy

When considering music therapy there are also practical considerations that need to be made. Music Therapy can be time-consuming for both parent and child, as it is not enough to simply have a weekly therapy session. If the child is to make significant progress, the parents must implement learned music techniques throughout the week at home and in the community. This can place added stress on a family who is already trying to cope with their child’s special needs and rigorous therapy routine.

Music therapy is not a quick fix, but rather it supports the child’s development from the inside out, helping them develop a foundation and then build on it to develop much needed skills. Some children may not progress as quickly as others when starting music therapy, and this may be a cause for concern for some parents. Parents may anticipate great strides in language development or social skills, however these areas will often require time for the child to develop the foundation on which they will build.

Because we cannot guarantee rapid and consistent progress, it may be discouraging for parents when they don’t see immediate changes at home. Only through consistent therapy, home implementation, and regular analysis of the overall therapy program will we be able to determine the impact of music therapy on your child’s quality of life.

In the case of private music therapy, cost may also be a concern because a significant percentage of private health insurance plans do not cover music therapy, and those who do only do so as an out of network service. It is very important to check with your health plan about out of network music therapy coverage. You can learn more about music therapy and insurance coverage here.

Want to learn a bit more about music therapy for you?

We offer a 30-minute consultation where you can let us know more about your situation. This can be an in-person trial session, or simply a virtual meeting. To schedule a consultation time with one of our Board Certified Music Therapists, CLICK HERE