Music therapy assists toddlers' communication rehabilitation ( CI )

[Guest guest]

Press release, Universitity of Haifa, Israel - January 6, 2010

----------------

Music therapy can assist toddlers’ communication rehabilitation process

Music therapy can assist in the speech acquisition process in toddlers who

have undergone cochlear implantation, as revealed in a new study by Dr.

Dikla Kerem of the University of Haifa. The study was carried out in Israel

as a doctoral thesis for Aalborg University in Denmark (supervised by Prof.

Tony Wigram) and presented at a “Brain, Therapy and Crafts” conference at

the University of Haifa.

Some infants who are born with impaired hearing and who cannot benefit from

hearing aids are likely to gain 90% normal hearing ability by undergoing a

cochlear implantation procedure. Following the operation, however, the

child - who never heard before - undergoes a long rehabilitation process

before he or she can begin to speak.

In the present study, Dr. Kerem examined the particular effects that music

therapy has on the potential development of toddlers (aged 2-3 years) who

have undergone cochlear implantation, specifically in terms of improving

spontaneous communication. “Music comprises various elements that are also

components of language and therefore as a non-verbal form of communication

is suitable for communication with these children, when they are still

unable to use language. Communicative interactions, especially those

initiated by the toddlers, are critical in the development of normal

communication, as they are prerequisites for developing and acquiring

language,” explains Dr. Kerem. She adds that the toddlers undergoing

rehabilitation are under much pressure from their surroundings - especially

the parents - to begin talking, and sometimes this pressure makes them

become introverted. As such, music therapy lends itself to strengthening

these children’s nonverbal communication and thereby lessens the pressure on

them for verbal exchange and response.

The study provided sixteen sessions for children after cochlear

implantation. Eight of the sessions included music-related activities (such

as games with percussion instruments, vocal games and listening to simple

songs) and the rest involved playing with toys/games without musical sounds.

Each of the sessions was videotaped and then analyzed. The results showed

that during those sessions when music therapy was implemented, spontaneous

communication was markedly more frequent and prolonged in the children.

Derived from the results is the fact that the exposure to music needs to be

gradual, through the use of music experiences that involve basic musical

parameters (such as intensity and rhythm).

“Music can constitute the bridge between the quiet world that the child knew

and the new world of sounds that has been unfolded following the operation.

It is also important that the parents and staff learn the best way to expose

these children to music, the use of music for communication and the

importance of the therapist’s undirected approach (which enhanced the

children’s communication in music therapy and in play to a greater degree

than in the directed one). Music therapy is gradually penetrating the field

of rehabilitation, but there is still a lot of work to be done in improving

awareness of this important area”, Dr. Kerem explains.