Music therapy doesn’t always help kids talk. It won’t always remove problem behaviors. And it isn’t a foolproof way to help your child improve in school. I’m a Music Therapist, so why would I say this? Because I’m being completely honest. What Music Therapy Will NOT Do Music Therapy doesn’t cure cancer. It doesn’t take away mental..
Can music therapy help Autism? The answer is a resounding YES! When somebody asks me how music therapy helps someone with Autism I like to break it down to highlight the most common needs for someone who has Autism, which are: Sensory processing Social Skills Communication So how does music therapy help with these areas?..
Does your child struggle to get words out? Do they know what they want to say but can’t form the words? Perhaps this will help. Kids develop speech in a fairly predictable manner, with certain milestones being considered “typical” at certain ages. For example, most babies at 7-9 months may produce more varied sounds such..
Music is a powerful therapy in helping special needs children grow and succeed in otherwise difficult areas. How can it help your child? Read on to find out how. If you have a child with a disability, you are likely actively looking for the best ways to help your child. Parents of special needs children such as..
Music Therapy can make all the difference in Autism treatment. One of the simplest ways to support a child before, during, and after transitions is with a song. A music therapist can help you learn how to do it! Transitions can be especially difficult for many children with special needs. I’ve worked with many children..
SpyHop Productions beautifully documents how music therapy is used in Autism treatment. Just two years ago, SpyHop Productions put together a documentary about music therapy in Autism treatment. As luck would have it, my friend and fellow music therapist Amanda Maestro Scherer and I were featured in the film! It was SUCH a privilege to..
An understanding of sensory processes is crucial in Autism treatment. One must meet sensory needs first–learn why and how! I admit I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to sensory integration. Last summer when my friends were reading books like the Hunger Games and other fun novels I was digging in and loving “Sensory Integration and..
Music Therapy can provide a significant source of motivation in Autism treatment. Find out how: For a child with Autism, learning to communicate is a significant barrier. Not only does the child have difficulty knowing how to communicate, but often they are so involved in their own world that they have difficult finding the motivation to communicate. This..
Social skills are often a key element of Autism treatment, and music therapy is a powerful way to develop them. As a music therapist my Autism treatment goals fall under the standard domains of cognition, social skills, motor development, emotional regulation, and/or communication. Among these domains, social skills has always been a point of fascination..
Anyone providing Autism treatment must be aware of sensory processing that occurs beyond the five basic senses. Learning about the proprioceptive and vestibular senses makes all the difference! We all grow up learning about the 5 senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. I remember seeing fun little diagrams with pictures of a hand with..