|
Music Therapy and Down Syndrome |
|
|
|
Monday, 14 May 2007 |
|
I have never actually met a person with Down Syndrome who doesn't respond to music and who doesn't like to dance. Music therapy may help everyone.
When Kayla was born with Down Syndrome we didn't know what to expect but she has grown into quite the little performing star. Since the beginning I can remember singing to her and her cooing away with me. Then when she could move, those dance moves really started to shine and continue to develop today with her air guitar motions coming along well. We even use songs as a tool to help her talk, prompt initiation and improve her memory as to the sequence of actions and sounds. So far she has responded extremely well. When she was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) in 2005, when she was one, we were thrown into the unknown territory that a hospital brings. We quickly found our way around the wards with long stays of up to two weeks at a time over a 6 month period during chemotherapy. When music therapists Jenny then Bonnie came into our lives bringing fun, guitars, drums and singing we saw through the bad times and monotony of our days. Kayla really did get a lot out of music time both individually in her room when her immunity was at it's lowest and she couldn't communicate with the outside world and in group sessions for all the immuno-suppressed children and even at the outpatient clinic when mini-concerts were held. She is now in full remission and is even featured on the Nordhoff-Robbins music training centre website and seeing Kayla smile amongst all the hardships she endured and knowing they made it all the more easier, we thank Bonnie and Jenny for all their time with us. We will continue with some sort of music therapy in the hope her musical career will flourish so look out for Kayla in the future. |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 19 August 2007 )
|
