What is music therpy for autisic children?

Question

I heard there was a therpy called music therpy, my daughter loves to sing, dance and loves to listen to music. I am wondering what music therpy consist of and how it works and if anyone has seen the effects of it working vs. not working? Does anyone know any websites about it and has anyone ever gotten it approved for IEP, at an ARCH meeting at a childs public school and what are the pointers to use??

Answer 1

I am a certified music therapist, and there is a lot of research on the use of music to help autistic children. There are many music therapists who work in school districts and you can request it for your child. Check out this website www.musictherapy.org. It will give you all the info. about music therapy and autism. Click on frequently asked questions.

Answer 2

I don't know whether your daughter is verbal or not, but if she isn't but she still loves to sing, chances are she will be more likely to sing a word than to speak it.

My 10 year old niece speaks on an 18 month's level. I bought a "talking photo album" at Radio Shack that has places for 36 pictures & you can record a 10 second message with each photo. I put picture cards of words I wanted he to say with the word sung in a little song recorded with it. She loves to go through the album, press the buttons & sing the words. I've just been doing this for a month or two & her vocabulary has already increased significantly!

BTW - you stated in an answer to my question that the 1 out of 166 stats does not include Aspergers or PDD-NOS. The CDC says the statisitcs for ASD, which includes Asperger's & PDD-NOS is between 1 in 500 (2/1,000) to 1 in 166 children (6/1,000) have an ASD.

Answer 3

I also have a three year previous daughter. She is amazingly fortunate. i do no longer stifle her understanding via proscribing the track I hear to. there is greater issues in existence for me to agonize approximately than an f-bomb right here or there. If a music is seems horribly beside the point on the time, i will pass; however the possibility is often there and that i wouldn't be close by to pass. 2: If i could sing alongside and enjoyed the track, i'd provide a new child (or all and sundry) mad props for listening to great track.

Answer 4

There are a few ways you can to with this:
Music Therapy
Tomatis Method
Joudry Method (AKA Sound Therapy, based on Tomatis Method)

It's about fixing connections in your brain. Another good thing is to read to your child and have them do something with their hands while you're reading eg mold a character from the story with playdough or wax or draw a picture of what's happening in the story.

Answer 5

I am a special ed teacher and has been added to the IEP-- Our cooperative pays for the musical therapy services.