Music therapy is one of the perfect ways to enhance human lives by bringing positive changes in their behavior. Connecting to the non-verbal part of the brain, music serves as the best therapy for disorders, such as autism, in which patient has trouble in communicating. The non-verbal form of communication, i.e. music is very influential. People with emotional problems can express their feelings through music, creating positive changes in the behavior, providing motivation.
Music Therapist
Music therapy involves specialized use of music by a well trained professional who work in almost every area with people of all ages and with developmental disabilities. Music therapists tap into the power of music to support and motivate people in their social, emotional, communicational, physical, cognitive and spiritual needs. Musical therapist use musical lessons and activities to improve a patient’s self-confidence and self-awareness. A music therapist needs to get certification from the certified board before carrying on the practices and needs to study the latest advancements in the field of music therapy.
Techniques of musical therapy
Music therapy with autistic children is very useful as it is very soothing and is of non-threatening nature. Music therapy is a well established technique which has a variety of functions with the exceptional child. For individuals with cognitive and emotional challenges, musical interaction helps them to improve their ability to function. Musical therapists can build skills, lower anxiety, and even develop new communication skills. Even, trained professionals can use music to teach children and others how to communicate in nonverbal ways, making it easier for patients to learn. By using all these techniques musical therapy can bring wonders in the lives of autistic children. Music therapy
Development and Remediation of speech
Music Therapy is particularly effective in the development and remediation of speech.Music therapy on autism facilitates improvement in communication skills due to reduced stress and strain. An autistic child suffers severe deficit in communication which includes expressive speech which may not be existent or may be impersonal. Speech can range from complete mutism to grunts, cries, explosive shrieks, guttural sounds, and humming. Using music therapy, the speech and learning abilities improve. Motivational and interpersonal responsiveness
Music and Education
Autistic children have unusual sensitivities and choices at music. Some, for instance, have perfect pitch whereas others with a little instruction can play a particular instrument very well. An autistic child has abilities in music that exceed his or her other abilities. Some autistic children sing when they may not speak so a musical therapist can use music to build a bridge between these kinds of learning with other kind of learning’s so that the child can communicate emotions as well as develop memory. With the up gradation of technologies, various kind of educational software’s for autistic children are now available.
Children with autism have interest in music and they respond positively towards it. An autistic child may be found singing the same song with perfect lyrics as learned during the class just after the class session and it is a beautiful experience but when the same child uses the same words as in the song, heard during the class to communicate with the outer world, it is the ultimate contribution towards the language potential of this child.