Music Therapy for Children with Special Needs
Kids today face challenges that we as adults who grew up in a much simpler generation could most likely have never imagined. And if your child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability or is on the autism spectrum, those challenges are often unique and amplified.
According to the CDC, “developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime”. Children with developmental disabilities often do not reach expected milestones in areas such as communication, fine and gross motor development, behavior, play skills and more. Similarly, the National Institute of Mental Health describes Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as “a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is said to be a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.”
In addition to ASD, other examples of developmental disabilities include Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome to name only a very few. Lagging skills in children with a disability often leave them feeling isolated, confused, traumatized, overwhelmed, alone and unsure of how to make social connections or friendships. The truth is that approximately 30-50% of children with a disability may also have mental health conditions, according to research in the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. That’s more than most neurotypical children.
So what sorts of supports, therapies and resources are available to help children who are diagnosed with a developmental disability? Music therapy is one such modality that is often effective with this very wonderful, endearing and special population!
Music therapy sessions are facilitated by highly-trained, board certified therapists. It is a research-based, scientifically proven therapy that is effective in nearly all populations. For people with special needs, it is an especially preferred and effective treatment method because responding to music is a natural part of human development that is present even before birth. In other words, music is innate and natural within us as human beings, so no matter how significantly a child is impacted, our brains are pre-wired to respond to music. As such, music therapy becomes an excellent way to address a variety of non-musical skills in a musical way.
Additionally, music is the only sensory stimulus that is processed in both hemispheres of the brain so individuals with developmental disabilities are able to engage with musical interventions even if a portion of their brain is not fully functioning or is underdeveloped. Music is fun, multi-modal and playful, so children and teens participating in music therapy don’t realize they are actually “working” on developing skills related to targeted need areas and lagging skills. During a music therapy session, music is used as the medium to target non-musical skill deficits in the areas of:
- Cognitive Skills
- Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Expressive or Receptive Communication Skills
- Attention to Task
- Frustration Tolerance
- Self-Regulation
- Social Skills
- Sensory Integration
- Stemming or Repetitive Behaviors
- And More!
When a child with a disability begins to develop skills and strategies related their individual needs, powerful changes occur. Clients feel empowered and capable. They feel more regulated, confident and can develop a sense of success and independence. Clients learn alternatives to shift maladaptive behaviors to adaptive, healthy coping tools. Through music therapy, a person with special needs can gain a broader sense of self-efficacy, develop skills to communicate their needs and learn to deal with the unique challenges they face in their day to day lives.
During music therapy sessions at Better Together Therapies, your child will be offered not just acceptance, kindness and understanding, but they will engage in practical strategies and therapeutic experiences to improve personal well-being no matter what special challenges they are facing. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a developmental disability and you are interested in learning how music therapy can help, please call our office!
*For additional information regarding the effectiveness of music therapy for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, please click here.