When there seems to be a developmental disorder in your child, you want to do everything you can to help them. This is why the link between music therapy and Rett Syndrome has gotten so much press. By combining this effective and side effect free therapy with more traditional developmental therapies, music therapy and Rett Syndrome are working hand in hand to help children move through the world in a more constructive way – even as their bodies are trying to defy them.
Before you can learn about music therapy and Rett Syndrome, it will help to learn the basics of music therapy. In short, music therapy is the practice in which music is used as a tool to help a patient reach certain goals. For some patients, music might be used to encourage them during a particularly hard physical therapy session. For others, music might be used to help with mental disorders by allowing them to speak more freely about their troubles through lyrics, song sharing, etc. And in the case of Rett Syndrome, music seems to helping improve motor coordination, which can allow children to lead a more normal life.
The other side of the music therapy and Rett Syndrome discussion is the disorder itself. Characterized by jerking movements of the body, Rett Syndrome is a developmental disorder the presents itself in early childhood. Sometimes it can be as sever as to not allow the child to move their muscles properly, while in other cases, the child may be in extreme pain in trying to move against what their body is trying to do. This is generally a gradual onset disorder and a child may appear to be developing at a normal rate for the first few years of their life. But as the syndrome progresses, the child may begin to show autistic signs – toe walking, coordination troubles, and breathing troubles.
Caused by a genetic defect, Rett Syndrome does not have any cure as of yet, but it does appear to respond to concentrated therapy – like physical therapy. This can give the child more mobility while also helping them learn to use their body in a productive manner. By teaching children how to communicate through rhythm and music, the child can feel as though they are a part of their world as well as having the parent feel as though their child can 'speak' to them. These children who use music therapy also seem to be able to make decisions on their own as well as lessening the jerky movements that their body uses.
The link between music therapy and Rett Syndrome progress is easy to see in the many research studies that have been done around the world.
Autism is a disorder of the brain that results in communication difficulties and the inability to behave normally in social situations. The symptoms of autism usually show themselves within the first three years of life. Some people experience less severe autism symptoms and can eventually live a semi-independent life. Unfortunately, those with severe autism often must continue to live at home throughout adulthood. This is a very serious disease and as with any disease, there are many different proposed treatments. One of the most highly recognized and used treatments for autism is music therapy.
Music therapy and autism have a fantastic relationship. Most autistic persons have a love for music, and this of course makes it essential to use music therapy as a treatment. Music therapy and autism treatment works well because of the almost obsessive interest autistic persons have in music. As a result, using music therapy to treat autism has a very good rate of positive response. The theory behind the relationship between the positive results of music therapy and autism is rooted in the way autistic people typically view other people and social situations. Music provides a non-intrusive way for the autistic person to be exposed to stimulation without becoming threatening or requiring the autistic person to interact directly with other people.
There are many different ways autistic persons can be helped with music therapy. For example, certain music therapies can foster an autistic person's desire to communicate with others; external stimuli like music can help to break patterns of isolationism in autistic persons. Music therapy can even be used to treat some of the motility problems experienced by autistic persons as well as help facilitate language usage and comprehension. All of these positive results of music therapy and autism increase the autistic person's social abilities, and this is one of the most important things to focus on in the average autism patient.
It is important to remember that while music therapy and autism treatment have a lot of major benefits, some autistic persons can be overwhelmed by music therapy. Over-stimulation can be the result of some music therapies, so it is vital that music therapists are qualified to work with autism patients and that they are completely familiar with the patient before beginning therapy. All autistic persons are different, and this is the reason why one type of autistic person might benefit from music therapy and autism patients of another type might be harmed. Sometimes, autistic persons can become consumed with music and this can foster the wrong types of behaviors like further isolation and withdrawal. These possible difficulties should not suggest that all autistic persons will have negative reactions to music therapy. When applied correctly and to the right individual, music therapy and autism treatment can definitely help many autistic persons.
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