Neurologic music therapy: Supporting school-readiness skills in children with hearing loss

Abstract

Children with hearing loss (HL) who use listening and spoken language as their methods of communication are now being integrated into classrooms with typically hearing peers upon school entry due to the development of sophisticated hearing technology. However, areas in overall development may lag as the delay in accessibility to speech and language makes it difficult to reach age-appropriate levels in time for kindergarten. Supporting development in these areas of the challenge requires explicit teaching of, and experience with, listening, language, social and executive function, literacy and balance. Participating in a group music and movement class with a focus on areas of challenge for children with HL using neurologic music therapy techniques allows for goal-directed therapy and practice, along with the opportunity to interact with peers in a supportive environment. An overview of the specific techniques for each area of interest and how they can be used is discussed along with a sample curriculum.