Developmental Disabilities
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Music is a natural part of our development. Our response to music often presents even before birth! For individuals with a developmental disability, music still remains as a natural part of their brain and body. Our heart beats in rhythm. We breathe in rhythm. We even walk in rhythm. Because our music skills develop naturally and our brain is pre-wired to respond to music, music therapy can be an excellent way to address a variety of non-musical skills.
Music is the only sensory stimulus that is processed on both hemispheres of the brain. Because of that, individuals with a developmental disability may be able to respond to music and music-based interventions even if a portion of the brain is underdeveloped. In fact, music can help BUILD up the areas of the brain that are not functioning to their full capabilities. Music can even help build new centers in the brain to process input such as speech. Because music is fun and is regarded as play, participants in music therapy often forget that they are “working”. Music therapy is a multi-modal approach to target a variety of non-music based skills.
Music therapy services can be conducted in individual and group settings. Music therapy is a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and can be a component of Birth to Three (click HERE) or the IEP (click HERE). We also proudly work with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Music therapy can be an effective form of treatment across the life span.
We have experience working with children and adults diagnosed with...
Autism
Down Syndrome
Fragile-X
Williams Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome
Emanuel Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
ADHD
Learning Disabilities
Just to name a few…
Music Therapy Can Work On:
Improving motor skills
Improving receptive and expressive communication skills
Improving attention to task
Improving self-regulation
Improving social skills
Improving sensory integration
And the list goes on!

During a music therapy session, a variety of music-based interventions are implemented in order to target goals and objectives on a treatment plan. Music therapists may use drumming interventions to work on bilateral coordination (use of both arms), singing exercises to improve articulation, adapted music lessons to improve fine motor skills and cognition, dancing with scarves to improve hand eye coordination, and a variety of other music-based interventions. We use percussion instruments, movement materials, art supplies, toys, and more in each session according to research based methodologies. Sessions at Infinity Music Therapy Services are designed according to each client’s strengths, musical preferences, learning style, and individualized goals.
Snippets of Research...
The participants in this study were children with a mean age of 11.5 years with a diagnosis of Autism. Each participant was taught four emotions to decode and encode: happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. Data showed that background music and song texts were effective in improving the participants’ abilities to decode and encode emotions. (Katagiri, 2009)
Results from another study yielded data that music therapy group sessions targeting social skills can improve joint attention and eye gaze with other group participants and facilitators. (LaGasse, 2014)
A study was conducted that found that music therapy may have a measurable effect on the speech development of children through the treatment’s interactions with fundamental aspects of speech development, including the ability to form and maintain relationships and prosodic abilities. Music therapy can provide a basic and supportive therapy for children with delayed speech development. (Gross et.al, 2010)
Neuroscientific research has demonstrated that music has positive effects on brain development. Children who undergo musical training have better verbal memory, second language pronunciation accuracy, reading ability, and executive functions. Learning to play an instrument as a child may even predict academic performance and IQ in young adulthood. Rhythmic entrainment may assist in supporting learning and developing executive function. Music hones temporal processing and orienting of attention in time that may underlie enhancements observed in reading and verbal memory. “We conclude that musical training uniquely engenders near and far transfer effects, preparing a foundation for a range of skills, and thus fostering cognitive development.” (Miendlarzewska & Trost, 2014)
Clinic Location
Main Office:
196 Queen Street
Southington, CT 06489
Contact Us
General Questions/ Referrals:
Main Line (860) 518-5557
Fax (888) 200-4093
info@infinitymusictherapy.com