Music Therapy Yields Gains For Children With Autism

Incorporating singing and other music-based activities in therapy sessions can make a big impact for kids with autism, new research suggests, boosting communication and other factors. Read More >

Children with autism may benefit from music-based therapy

A study in the journal Translational Psychiatry showed that children with autism spectrum disorder who underwent one-on-one therapy with music had improved parent-reported social communication and family quality of life, compared with those whose therapy didn't include music. The findings also showed brain connectivity changes in MRI scans of those in the music-based intervention group.

Disability Scoop

Making Some Music with Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is found in every realm of life, including music! Every person, including those with disabilities, should be given an opportunity to explore and find what music makes them groove!  

In this blog check out a few of my favorite pieces of AT for creating or playing music. Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list, rather a starting place for exploring AT for music.   http://ndipat.org/blog/make-some-music-with-assistive-technology/ 

Musical Therapy Making Breakthroughs

Machover's team took Hyperscore to Tewksbury Hospital outside of Boston, which serves patients with severe physical and mental disabilities, including the homeless. The residents, many of whom were physically unable to communicate or were otherwise uncommunicative, discovered their inner composer. Through Hyperscore they found they could express themselves in a way that bypassed language. A few patients with hopeless prognoses and no meaningful life had significant enough changes in their pathology that they could actually think about at least partial recovery. Some found a decrease in auditory and visual hallucinations.
Read more at http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-tod-machover-notebook-20120122,0,6575574.story.