This week I had observed something after one of my sessions that I have witnessed many times before. As I talked with a parent about her child, we talked about some of the things others may consider self-stimulatory behaviors. However, this mom was watching and trying to figure out what exactly was going on. She… Read more »
“People Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel”
I have a small group of kids that I have been working with musically for several years. They all have diverse needs, strengths and diagnosis. As I met with them this week and listened to them talk, I picked up on some things that they said. As I looked back over the years together, the… Read more »
Autism and Therapies; “Custom Fit ” versus “One Size Fits All”
I personally have difficulty using behavioral therapies as the “proven” therapies to use for a child who does not have a behavioral problem but rather has a neurological one. I recently saw a video put out by Dr. John Carpente of Molloy College on DIR Floortime and “Play”. Check out this DIR/Floortime Research…thanks Carol Ann LoPinto Blank for sharing this…http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/1233408557/ID=2220343281…. Read more »
Frankie Finds His Voice; “Where Words Fail, Music Speaks”
I had a very exciting session with a non-verbal client this week. He demonstrated to me that he was consciously beginning to learn how to use his voice when he wanted. After last week’s blog about signs of speech, I thought a depiction of this would be appropriate. Frankie is an eight year old non-verbal autistic child. I… Read more »
7 Signs That Demonstrate Speech Is Possible
I recently worked with a couple of non-verbal autistic boys who were having wonderful sessions. The very next day I ran across an article online by Margaret A Fish, MS,CCC-SLP. The article was entitled Development In Children With Severe Childhood Apraxia Of Speech – www.pediastaff.com. Later that day, a mother of a Downs Syndrome son… Read more »
The Balance Between Structure and Play and it’s Long Lasting Results
This week as I was working with a group of emotionally disturbed adolescents, I was amazed to watch this group of boys, who seemingly easily set each other off, eagerly choose instruments and begin to work together. None of these boys have any musical training, but as they chose their instruments I began a very loosely structured… Read more »
The 3 Ingredients In Gaining Speech: Movement, Motivate, Music
This week a private, non-verbal client walked out of my Music Therapy room and told his mother, “Ready”. The TSS worker of another non-verbal autistic client told me the most words her client speaks come out (pop out words) during his Occupational Therapy sessions. When do you feel most alert? When are you most motivated… Read more »
Alternate Sources for Autism – No Hoops To Jump Through
I have written numerous times about using “stim” behaviors in autistic children as learning tools. However this blog is referring to having a Music Therapy Practice in an area where Music Therapy appears to be a new concept. I recently attended an IEP meeting where it was suggested that if the parents were interested in music for… Read more »
The “Yellow Brick Road” of Development; Different Route, Different Rules
The “Yellow Brick Road” was a familiar phrase that was a treat to watch for my brother and I growing up. Essentially, Dorthy needed to and wanted to go home. She ended up in an unfamiliar, unpredictable place and apparently ,the “Yellow Brick Road” wouldn’t get her directly home, but it would get her to… Read more »
Beautiful Music, Is It What You Think?
Process versus product. Generally when I give an introductory talk about Music Therapy, I begin by making the comparisons between Music for Leisure, Music Education, and Music Therapy. Music for Leisure is a passive type of music which I am going to leave alone today. Music Education and Music Therapy are active processes and very… Read more »