| dc.description.abstract | Children with special needs face: delayed language, difficulty making eye contact, disturbed
social interaction, problems with pragmatic language and poor comprehension leading to
poor communication skills which include both receptive and expressive skills. Impairment of
ability and skill in communication can affect negatively the quality and quantity of social
interactions with adults and peers. Likewise, improvement in communication abilities and
skills may have a correlation, or relational effect on social skills and quality of life. This
therefore calls for a lot of intervention/ therapy strategies to beput in place for teaching
communication skills to children with special needs without forgetting the emerging therapy
approaches which include Music therapy. Music as therapy strategy has helped to improve
communication deficits and stimulate nonverbal communication through shared play, turntaking,
listening and responding to another person.It alsohas a unique ability to evoke
memories the moment we hear it. Humans think in terms of pattern, repetition and connection
and what is involvedin the music structure, hence, singing simple phrases with lots of
repetition encourage imitation of words that promotes language development. Vocal warm up
and activities in reference to posture, breath control and articulation support individuals with
weak articulatory muscles and posture for effective communication. Dancing on the other
hand help to stimulate sensory system hence enhances fine motor skills. Speech therapy helps
individuals with communication disorders to develop language whereas Music therapy
specifically promotes development and strengthens language, communication and social
skills through engaging music intervention. | en_US |
