Say What? How important is music to your special needs child?

It has always been my personal impression that music is extremely important to children with special needs.
I can only speak from my own personal experience.  Granddaughter, Aimee, has always been passionate about music and has reacted positively to all types of music.  When an infant, she didn't respond to much, if anything,  but did respond to music.  In fact, the first time she smiled was while listening to a familiar tune she recognized.  This was a major breakthrough which I've always linked to her love of  music.  She didn't speak until age three and a half, however, once she could talk, she readily began singing familiar words to the tunes she knew. This, in turn, broaded her vocabulary and her desire to speak.

A recent article in the San Jose Mercury News  "Studies find music may give voice to those who can't speak" (Sunday, 2/21/10) written by Randolph E. Schmidt points out that words and music are natural partners and it seems obvious they go together.  He states that studies have found overlap in the brain's processing of language and instrumental music, and that new research suggests that intensive musical therapy may help improve speech in stroke patients.  In addition, researchers said, music can help children with developmental dyslexia or autism more accurately use speech.

Gottfried Schlaug, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School told the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Music making is a multi-sensory experience, activating links to several parts of the brain".

Music can be integrated into all kids of educational games and activities as well as set the mood for rest and relaxation. My suggestion is to play lots and lots of music for your children.....it can't hurt and can only help!

Best,
Julie