25th Annual Student Research Conference
Music Therapy and Children with Disabilities
Megan L. Sanders
Dr. Lynn Rose and Dr. Sherri A. Palmer, Faculty Mentors
Music stimulates the entire brain. For this reason, music is often used as a form of therapy. Music therapy can help those with disabilities live well-integrated lives. Music can help express emotion, cope with stress, improve communication, and aid in physical rehabilitation. While music therapy can be beneficial to people of any age, with any disability, or any level of pain, the focus of this research is on children with disabilities. Music therapy can help students with ADD/ADHD focus in class, and can contribute to the development of communication skills in children diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. Music therapy can keep children responsive and focused, and it can improve their self- worth. My research focuses specifically on how music affects the brain and how music therapy is implemented. In this presentation, I will offer examples of testimonies to the effects of music therapy in children with disabilities.
Keywords: music therapy, disability, children, music, brain and music
Topic(s):Disability and the Arts
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 303-4
Location: OP 2210
Time: 1:45