Corey Herd CassidyDepartment of

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Radford University

Patricia WinterDepartment of Music

Therapy Radford University

Speech/Language Therapy and Music

Therapy: A collaborative

approach for the language development of young children

Music and the Brainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVIiYyD2_YU

Music and the brain cont. Music stimulates areas of the brain that process:

Emotions, perceptual motor skills, stress and immune responses, cognition, and attention and memory

These sites include: Frontal lobe Parietal lobes Temporal lobes Cerebellum

The Brain Cont.

Common processing areas: Music and Language

Music processed in both right and left hemispheres Musicians process music more in the left brain,

whereas non-musicians process music more in the right brain.

Thalamus (motor cortex) Cerebellum (motor movement, some cognition, essential

long-term memory traces for motor learning Broca’s area is activated by familiar music, as well as

rhythm Wernicke’s areas is activated in the understanding of

lyrics Temporal lobe responsible for hearing perception Prefrontal Cortex

Speech & Language/Music

Collaborative Goals for Children with Speech and Language Disorders

Auditory training Development of speech Receptive and expressive language Emergent literacy Motor skills development Social skills development

Auditory Training Determining the presence or absence of

sound Determining whether sounds are the same or

different Recognition of sounds based on timbre Understanding of sounds

Development of SpeechFree vocalizationVocal imitationRhythmic vocalizationVocal phrasingVocal dynamics

Development of Receptive Language

Joint attention Following directions Imitation Concept development Memory

Development of Expressive Language

Vocal and verbal imitationVocabulary acquisitionSentence construction

• Syntax and morphology• Length of utterance• Sequencing of words

Emergent Literacy

Rhyme, rhythm, and repetitionExperiential learningConcept development (characters and

plot)Sequencing of events

Motor Skills DevelopmentImpulse controlMotor planningFeeling and replicating the beat

Social Skills DevelopmentSelf-expressionSelf-confidence Interpretation of social cuesPeer interaction

• Imitation• Turn taking

Collaboration in action! Funga Alafia or Wake Up Shake Up

Play & Stop

Instrument identification

My Momma Your Momma

Silly Sally

Aka Baka

Brain Storming! How could you use this in a natural or early

childhood setting?

When would you consult with or collaborate with an SLP and/or an MT?

References Bolton, C. (2008). Language development and music: Music can help children learn to talk and communicate.

Retrieved from www.suite101.com/content/language-developmentand-music-a44431.

Darrow, A. A., & Gfeller, K. (1988). Music therapy with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. In C. A. Furman (Ed.), Effectiveness of MT Procedures: Documentation of

Research and Clinical Practice (pp. 230-266). Washington, DC: National Association for Music Therapy.

Gfeller, K., Driscoll, V., Kenworthy, M., & Voorst, V.T. (2011). Music therapy for preschool cochlear implant recipients. Music Therapy Perspectives, 29(1) 39-49.

Gold, C., Wigram, T., & Cochavit, E. (2010). Music therapy for autistic spectrum disorder. Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group. The Cochrane Collaboration, John Wiley

& Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10. 1002/14651858.CD004381.pub2

Jensen, E. (2001). Arts with the brain in mind. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Lim, H.A. (2010). Effect of “developmental speech and language training through music” on speech production in children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Music Therapy, 47, 2-26.

Salmon, A. (2010). Using music to promote children’s thinking and enhance their literacy development. Early Childhood Development and Care, 180(7), 937-945.

Trollinger, V.L. (2010). The Brain in Singing and Language. General Music Today, 23(2), 20-23.