Here at Lexington, we provide a complete music therapy program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. From assessment to program design; from goal setting to skill development, our Music Therapy counselors will develop and implement an individualized music therapy program that both motivates and delights your autistic child.
WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY FOR AUTISM?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy can be defined as, “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” Our music therapists plan and implement individualized music therapy learning plans in a fun and engaging atmosphere to promote skill development.
IS MUSIC THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?
Music has a universal appeal and captures attention. Simply put, children love music. Music therapy for autism provides children with an opportunity to learn in a non-traditional, non-threatening setting.
Music therapy has proven to help the learning of children with autism in the following ways:
- Provides positive focus for attention.
- Improves cognition, especially in the area of pattern recognition.
- Songs activate learning in the verbal and the non-verbal parts of the brain.
- Reduces negative self-stimulating behaviors.
- Calms anxiety.
- Allows for individual expression.
- Improves speech.
- Encourages vocalization.
- Increases both fine and gross motor skills.
- Increases confidence.
- Improves creativity.
- Allows opportunities for emotional expression.
Music therapy can be more effective when it is combined with our other outpatient therapy programs: occupational therapy; and speech and language services. Our experts will design the music therapy program that best suits your child’s unique learning needs to support cognitive development and increase overall communication skills.
WHAT TYPES OF MUSICAL THERAPY ACTIVITIES WILL MY CHILD WITH AUTISM PARTICIPATE IN?
It is challenging to overstate how diverse symptoms are across the Autism Disorder Spectrum; thus music therapy programs must be uniquely designed for your child based on our expert assessment. The following are just a few of the activities that your child may participate in during their music therapy lesson:
- Exposure to a diverse variety of sound therapies, i.e. recorded tones, xylophone, singing bowls.
- Exposure to and training with musical instruments.
- Participate in ensemble and chorus musical performances.
- Exposure to a wide variety of percussion instruments.
- Listening to music from a wide range of time periods and cultures.
- Opportunities to vocalize and sing.
- Participate in movement to music i.e. clapping, swaying, tapping, marching, dancing.
- Perform to music.
Our music therapies are designed to use rhythm to facilitate sensory organization and enhance communication skills. Ensemble performances and exposure to orchestra-style music can reinforce social intelligence.
Songs bring in the verbal component that invites all to participate in the creative act of singing and music-making. This creative activity activates critical thinking, promotes sensory information processing, and even helps with balance and other fine and gross motor skills.
