Music therapy uses music interventions to achieve goals related to individuals’ physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music therapists aid children who have autism spectrum disorders, genetic syndromes, developmental delays and mental health disorders, as well as kids who have undergone trauma or difficult transitions in their lives.
Goals
While children who participate in music therapy may develop music skills, the goal is to meet therapeutic goals such as improved motor or communication skills. For instance, Ian Ash, music therapist at Music Therapy Resources, LLC in Bryn Mawr, PA, explains that music therapy can help a child with ADHD increase his attention span by having him play a repetitive drum beat for a sustained period of time while the music therapist sings and plays a song. A child with autism can work on social skills by sharing instruments and playing songs with others.
Skill building
When James Sarno of Kennett Township, PA sings, every word comes out clearly. His mother, Regina, marvels at this fact because James, who has Down syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder, was almost completely nonverbal as a child.
James began singing in the chorus in high school. When his mother saw how music helped his verbal skills, she signed him up for music therapy at The Arc of Chester County in West Chester, PA, and Tempo! Music Therapy Services, which has locations in West Chester, Lancaster and King of Prussia, PA as well as in Nutley, NJ.
“James had been in speech therapy since he was 2, and it didn’t work the way music did for him,” says Regina. Music therapy has also helped James to be more social and reduced his anxiety, explains Regina.
Music therapy & the IEP
Paula Broody approached her 10-year-old son Bryce’s school, the Brennen School, in Newark, DE, a few years ago about offering music therapy. Bryce, who has autism, had always responded well to music, and she thought music therapy would help him build various skills. The school, which specializes in providing education to children with autism, did an evaluation and found that Bryce qualified for music therapy. He learned his alphabet by using piano keys, and he developed other academic skills with the help of rhyming and music.
Paula, who is also a parent consultant at the Parent Information Center of Delaware, says that to get services through the schools, “You have to be a little bit pushy.” She says this can be particularly true with public schools, where it is sometimes harder to get more unique services. “Collect examples and show the school how it has worked,” she advises.
Music therapy can be part of a child’s individualized education program. Parents can request, in writing, that their child be assessed by a board-certified music therapist. If the school doesn’t have a music therapist or needs more information about music therapy, the American Music Therapy Association can help with information and finding a board-certified music therapist to determine whether music therapy would help the child.
Screenings and insurance
Many parents choose to pursue music therapy outside the school. Angela Guerriero, founder and clinical director at Tempo!, says, “A child doesn’t have to have any particular music ability, but if music motivates your child, parents may want to tap into that.”
At Tempo!, a music therapist will do a free screening to determine if music therapy would be an appropriate intervention for a child and to identify what the goals would be before a parent decides to commit to therapy sessions.
Some insurance plans cover music therapy, but it is considered on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for reimbursement by insurance, music therapy must be prescribed by a physician, be deemed reasonable and necessary for the child’s treatment and be based on a documented treatment plan with clear goals to improve some level of functioning.
If parents decide to explore music therapy for their child, Guerriero recommends finding a music therapist that has the MT-BC credential. This indicates that the therapist is certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists and has met the national standards for administering music therapy.
Susan Stopper is a frequent contributor to MetroKids.
