Music Therapy: Study Says Music Key for Non-Verbal Children and Children with Speech and Language Delays

This article contains information regarding music therapy and how it helps improve learning disorders and academics. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. To learn more about Music Therapy, complete the form below. Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

The concept for using music as a form of healing dates back to the times of Plato and Aristotle. The ancient Greek Philosophers thought that music could serve as a therapeutic function for those suffering from many different illnesses. Aristotle believed that if an ideal environment could be achieved the healing process could be accelerated. Music was part of the ideal environment, and at that time, there were healing shrines that housed hymn specialists as well as physicians (Gfeller, K. E., 2002). The music therapy we are familiar with today began after World War I and II with the treatment of veterans. Local musicians played for traumatized military patients and doctors and nurses began to see positive results. Since then, there has been continuous research on the effectiveness of music therapy

What is Entrainment?

Take a glance at that last listing. Have you heard of the word entrainment before? Entrainment is actually a physics term that describes when two systems or two objects start moving together with the same movement. This requires less energy than moving in opposite directions. This phenomenon occurs even if two objects are near each other and are not moving the same way. Over time, the objects begin moving together. The same happens in our bodies to rhythm.

When you are jogging to music, you usually start running to the beat of the song. Each step is a beat or a half beat and pretty soon your whole body is matching the rhythm. This also happens at concerts. It’s almost impossible to not move your head, hips, feet, or hands to the songs. In our own bodies, the lub dub of the heart has its own rhythmic beat and it controls the circulation in our bodies. It brings the oxygenated blood to the brain which controls the Central Nervous System (CNS). When we are excited or nervous, the heart rate and respirations increase. When we are tired or resting, our heart rate goes down. Music creates life and expression.

There are a multitude of universal traits that music carries. A few of these traits include the following

1. Music encourages movement
2. Music captivates and maintains attention
3. Music helps release emotions
4. People of all ability levels can participate
5. Music taps into all regions of the brain
6. Music facilitates learning