Ta-da! Music Is A Terrific Tool for Speech Therapy!

Song, Music and Melodies are Excellent Speech Therapy Tools for Kids!

We finalize our in-depth look at tools for speech therapy with Music. Yes…music can truly be an effective tool for speech therapy! Think about it, rhymes, patterns, sounds and movement all help bring about speech language comprehension and articulation. According to “Use of Music in Speech-Language Therapy,” an article by Mary B. Zoller, “Using music is a multi-sensory experience that enhances a number of other skills that impact on speech and language development.” The use of music as a speech therapy tool serves to energize and engage a child, and encourages the child to actively participate. And the good news? You do not need to be a musician or a great singer to reap the benefits of music as therapy! Even using a silly voice and acting out the lyrics is helpful in engaging your child and a way to get them to listen attentively and unknowingly engage them in speech therapy exercises. As we have mentioned throughout this series, this does not serve to replace a proper evaluation or treatment from an SLP, rather music as a tool for speech therapy that you can do at home or in conjunction with your current speech therapy regime. Continue reading →

Speech Buddies Parents’ Corner – 10 Indoor Games For Kids (that won’t break the furniture!)

by Chris O Games and Activities Parents' Corner

There are some days when either the weather or the schedule keeps the kids inside for just a bit too long and they start to become antsy balls of pent-up energy. Physical activity is essential for healthy bodies and minds, but can be challenging to accomplish some days. One particularly long winter many years ago I came to a realization – either find ways for the kids to actively play inside or install a room ensconced in bubble wrap. That winter was the year we tried possibly all the indoor games for kids and came up with some favorites – activities the kids can play inside without breaking the furniture! Continue reading →

Make Some Noise! Homemade Instruments for Kids and Music Therapy

by Chris O Language Development Reading Speech Therapy Techniques

Image Courtesy of stayathomemoms.about.com

Music therapy is a valuable part of many therapy programs. There is evidence that shows music to have many benefits for those struggling with speech and communication challenges, so bringing more music and rhythm into the classroom, therapy room, and home can be one more option for improving these skills. Whether you are looking to create some homemade music instruments for music therapy to save money, or because you have a child like mine who loves the creating part of the process as much as anything else, try some of these easy homemade instruments for kids that are great for music therapy – and for playtime. Continue reading →

Reaching Through the Autism Barrier with Music and Speech Therapy

by Chris O Language Development Speech Disorders Speech Therapist Speech Therapy Techniques

How Speech Therapy and Music Can Work Together to Help Those with ASD

Image Courtesy of blogs.longwood.edu

If your child has been diagnosed with ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder – you already know about some of the hurdles they face. While Autism doesn’t have characteristic physical features, like other brain abnormalities and injuries it is often marked by depressed or delayed communication skills, making interacting with the world so much harder. It sometimes feels as if there is an invisible barrier between your child and the people and experiences that make up your community. New approaches with music in speech therapy have been showing great promise for kids with Autism – from high functioning Autistic children to nonverbal Autistic children. Music therapy in general has been used for decades to treat anything from cognitive to behavioral to social disorders. Now speech-language therapists are finding the benefits of this therapy method to help their Autistic patients. Continue reading →

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